Aramco is evaluating new oil transport corridors to reduce its reliance on maritime chokepoints in the Persian Gulf. The company is studying a fourth and fifth export route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz after Saudi crude shipments in September jumped to the highest level recorded since the Iran war began. Qatar also increased LNG tanker traffic through the same waterway to its highest volume in over two months.

CEO Amin Nasser told Japanese media on Sept. 24 that the state oil giant can typically restore disrupted operations within days. These diversification efforts and plans for additional overseas storage in Japan aim to ensure contractual crude volumes reach core customers despite heightened risks from Iran linked attacks on regional infrastructure.