Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended operations on its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after drone attacks damaged infrastructure near Riyadh and Medina, raising fresh concerns for global oil supplies.
Known as the Petroline, the pipeline transports crude from Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, allowing the kingdom to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. It can carry up to 7 million barrels per day, while recent flows reached around 4–5 million barrels per day, equivalent to roughly 4–5 percent of global oil supply.
The shutdown comes as oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have already fallen sharply amid the regional conflict. Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on the East-West pipeline to move crude toward the Red Sea, but the closure now limits that alternative route.
The extent of the damage remains unclear. Some sources estimate repairs could take five to six weeks, although operations could resume sooner. Saudi authorities said the drones were launched from Iraq’s Maysan province.
Saudi Arabia has some short-term stockpiles at Yanbu, which could support exports for about five to seven days, with additional supplies available at Egyptian storage facilities. However, global oil inventories are already declining.
The International Energy Agency expects global oil supplies to fall by about 5.7 million barrels per day this year. Prolonged disruptions could push prices significantly higher, with experts warning Brent crude could potentially reach $150 a barrel if inventories become critically low.
