Aramco is currently increasing oil volumes in its east to west transport system after drone strikes on Sept. 11 forced a shutdown of the route. While crude is moving through the pipeline to domestic refineries, tanker exports from the Red Sea hub of Yanbu have not yet resumed. Approximately six tankers are scheduled to load from Yanbu between Sept. 24 and Sept. 27, but the hub faced further disruption Thursday when Greek forces stationed in Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone and a ballistic missile over the facility.

CEO Amin Nasser stated the company can typically resolve operational disruptions within days, referencing a 2019 event where operations returned in 11 days. Aramco is meeting contractual volumes for core customers but has reduced some incremental spot barrels due to market disruption. To reduce reliance on vulnerable chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb corridor, the company is exploring additional overseas storage in Japan and the development of fourth and fifth export routes.