Saudi Aramco has resumed direct crude oil loadings through the Strait of Hormuz, ending a three-week suspension of activity at its key Persian Gulf terminals. According to shipping data from Kpler and Vortexa cited by Reuters, the energy company reactivated operations at its Ras Tanura and Juaymah facilities last week after exploring alternative export routes during the operational hiatus.
Three very large crude carriers—Malaysia Prosperity, Algeria Prosperity, and Singapore Prosperity—each loaded approximately 2 million barrels of crude between August 12 and August 16, resuming the critical shipping corridor that handles a significant portion of global petroleum trade. The pause had prompted Saudi Arabia to evaluate workaround strategies to mitigate potential disruptions through the strategically important waterway.
The resumption of VLCC loadings signals a normalization of shipping operations through one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints. Industry analysts expect as many as six additional VLCCs to load Saudi crude from Hormuz terminals in the coming weeks, indicating a return to regular export patterns for the kingdom's petroleum operations.