Saudi Arabia faces oil supply disruptions after attack on East-West pipeline

On September 10, 2026, drone attacks targeted critical Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure, specifically hitting two pumping stations along the 1,200-kilometer East-West pipeline. This strategic artery, which transports millions of barrels of crude oil daily from the country's eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, was forced to cease operations, leading to a temporary suspension of oil loading and shipments to European customers.

While U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated on September 16 that the pipeline is expected to resume operations within days, the disruption has already caused significant market uncertainty, pushing global oil prices above $100 per barrel. Saudi Aramco has reportedly notified European refineries that scheduled deliveries for the following month will be interrupted, forcing the company to seek alternative fuel supplies, including diesel and gasoline, from the Mediterranean and European markets to cover internal deficits. The attacks, attributed to groups associated with Iran, have intensified concerns regarding global energy security and supply chain stability. In response, Saudi Arabia is working with the U.S. military to redirect more oil through the Strait of Hormuz to mitigate the impact of the outage.