Saudi Pipeline Attack Halts Oil Flows, Disrupts Europe Shipments

Drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West crude oil pipeline on 10 September 2026 led to an immediate shutdown, affecting oil flows to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and disrupting supplies to Europe.

The East-West pipeline, also known as Petroline, carries crude from Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil fields to Yanbu, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz and providing a key export route to Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal.

Before the disruption, the pipeline transported between 4 and 5 million barrels of oil daily, accounting for approximately 4–5% of the global oil supply. The shutdown followed damage to pumping stations in the Riyadh and Medina regions, resulting in a halt to crude loadings from Yanbu since 11 September.

Terminal inventories at Yanbu are reported to be sufficient for only three to five days of normal loadings, or about nine days of refinery operations if no new crude arrives. The loss of this route has forced European refiners to seek alternative sources, with at least three scheduled Saudi oil cargoes for late September cancelled or delayed, some until November.

What the numbers show

• East-West pipeline moved 4–5 million barrels per day before the attack.
• Yanbu terminal inventories cover 3–5 days of normal loadings.
• North Sea crude grades have traded at premiums up to $20 per barrel.

Saudi Aramco has announced construction of a bypass around the damaged sections of the pipeline. According to the company, full repairs are expected to take four to six weeks, with partial restoration of 2–2.5 million barrels per day possible within about a month.

Poland’s Orlen stated it has secured 16 additional oil cargoes from suppliers in Norway, Britain, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and the Americas to maintain refinery operations through October. The shutdown has also led to higher prices for North Sea medium and heavier crude, as refiners attempt to replace Saudi medium-density barrels.

The closure of the East-West pipeline removes the fastest route for Saudi crude to Europe, increasing reliance on longer shipping paths through the Gulf of Hormuz. Additional risks to maritime exports exist due to Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which further complicates access to European markets.

The European Commission has stated that the EU has diversified its oil and gas sources, maintained strategic reserves, and expanded LNG import capacity to support energy security during global disruptions. Europe’s Oil Coordination Group confirmed on 24 July 2026 that there were no immediate supply concerns for the EU, though ongoing instability in the Middle East could affect markets in the coming weeks and months.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.