Saudi Arabia’s Crude Oil Exports Reach Record High Amidst War Era
Saudi Arabia has escalated its crude oil exports to a staggering 6 million barrels per day (bpd) in September 2026. This is the highest level since the U.S.-Iran war began about seven months ago. This surge defies a significant infrastructure setback, reestablishing Saudi Arabia’s dominance in the global energy markets. This information is according to the trade intelligence firm, Kpler.
The impressive recovery follows a drone attack launched from Iraq that severely damaged Saudi Arabia’s crucial East-West oil pipeline earlier this month. This attack forced the kingdom to temporarily shut down this vital conduit, which transports approximately 4 million barrels per day to the Red Sea export hub of Yanbu.
Instead of succumbing to a debilitating supply shock, Riyadh quickly pivoted and rerouted exports through the Strait of Hormuz. This was made possible by a U.S. military-secured shipping lane along Oman’s coast.
The outcome: Saudi crude shipments in September have skyrocketed almost 80% over the 3.4 million bpd exported in August. This has restored exports to the kingdom’s 2025 monthly average. Brent crude oil had spiked to nearly $110 per barrel following the pipeline shutdown. However, it has since receded as markets gain confidence that the disruption is less severe than initially feared. Traders report that Saudi Aramco has already sold nearly 100 million barrels for October and November delivery to Asian buyers via Hormuz.
According to Reuters, the pipeline has resumed operations at low flow rates. A full restoration to pre-shutdown capacity is expected within six to eight weeks.
Source: CNBC – Saudi Arabia crude oil exports hit highest level since Iran war began despite pipeline outage