An unusual concentration of 30 supertankers in the Saudi port of Yanbu marks the start of a large-scale logistics operation. The blockade of traffic in the Persian Gulf, following Iranian attacks, has reduced global production by 6% and collapsed onshore storage. This fleet acts as a pressure relief valve to get the crude to the global market, avoiding a greater halt in energy supply.
The East-West Pipeline, the artery that saves the situation 🛢️
The operation is feasible thanks to Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, a key 1,200 km infrastructure that crosses the desert. It allows pumping crude from the Gulf fields to the Red Sea coast in Yanbu, completely bypassing the conflict zone. With a capacity of up to 5 million barrels daily, this system enables continuous loading of vessels, maintaining a steady flow to Asian markets despite the blockade.
From the Gulf frying pan to the Bab al-Mandab fire ⚠️
The solution has a blind spot. Once loaded in Yanbu, these sea giants must face the Bab al-Mandab strait, where the Houthis have declared a hunting zone. So the crude manages to dodge one blockade to sail toward another possible attack. It's like changing lanes in a traffic jam: you move a few meters, but in the end you're still stuck, only now with more cars around and the risk of someone puncturing your tire.