Saudi Arabia Resumes Crude Oil Loading at Ras Tanura
On Friday, Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, Aramco, began loading crude oil at the significant Ras Tanura terminal. This move is interpreted as a reassuring sign that shipping activity from the Persian Gulf can continue, especially in light of a recent attack by Iran on a Taiwanese cargo ship.
Ras Tanura, located on a peninsula in eastern Saudi Arabia, is strategically situated for oil exports. It’s the primary loading terminal for the Kingdom, designed to accommodate supertankers, and incorporates a substantial oil refinery and storage facilities. As of late 2025, it was reported that the port handled around 6 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil.
The resumption of operations at Ras Tanura was no small feat. Following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in March, which is the sole passage for oil tankers departing the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia managed to keep oil flowing through a pipeline to Yanbu, its Red Sea port. However, Ras Tanura faced significant operational challenges during that period.
According to Bloomberg News, two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) from Saudi Arabia’s state-owned shipping entity Bahri were on their way to the loading area in Ras Tanura, with a third already docked there, as reported by ship tracking data. Recent information from the Wall Street Journal indicated that two of these supertankers commenced loading crude oil on Friday, with a third potentially waiting in reserve. Each of these tankers has the capacity to carry about 2 million barrels.
This moment marked the first oil loading at Ras Tanura since March 8. Over the past three months, Saudi Arabia’s total production has plummeted from 7 million barrels a day to around 4 million barrels a day, even though Red Sea ports remain active.
Additionally, Reuters mentioned that there are whispers that Aramco may announce a considerable reduction in oil prices in the following week as exports from Saudi Arabia and other countries ramp up. Neighboring nations like Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have begun seeking buyers for their oil shipments. Meanwhile, Iran appears to be ready to load two of its VLCCs now that it is no longer under strict sanctions following a recent agreement with the United States.
Experts believe that exports have increased by about 2 million barrels per day since the new memorandum of understanding (MOU) was established, resulting in a corresponding decrease in the volume of oil trapped in the Persian Gulf. This trend suggests that exports may soon reach levels seen before the recent conflicts by the end of 2026.
