US-Iran Conflict Disrupts the Strait of Hormuz, Aramco Reroutes Oil Exports to Yanbu

Riyadh – Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, Saudi Aramco, announced the temporary rerouting of crude shipments to the Yanbu Industrial Port. The move is intended to bolster security measures while ensuring the continuity of oil supplies. According to Al Ekhbariya, Aramco said that some crude shipments were redirected to Yanbu as an alternative option for customers who cannot access the Arabian Gulf region. Covered by Saudi Gazette on Monday, 9 March 2026, Aramco stressed that it remains committed to safeguarding global oil supply reliability while monitoring developments to determine the right time to return operations to normal conditions. The step comes as maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted due to the conflict involving Iran. Bloomberg’s oil-tanker tracking data shows five large-capacity crude-oil carriers have loaded shipments at Yanbu this month. Exports from the port are also reported to have risen threefold compared with February’s average shipments.