Saudi Aramco Reportedly Halts October Crude Deliveries to Europe Following Pipeline Attack

State oil giant Saudi Aramco has informed at least two European refining companies that it will suspend crude oil deliveries under term contracts for October, according to Bloomberg. The decision is expected to impact all European buyers who typically receive steady monthly volumes of Saudi crude.

The disruption follows a targeted drone strike on Saudi Arabia's strategic East-West Pipeline, which connects major eastern oilfields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Riyadh stated that the unmanned aerial vehicle was launched from the direction of Iraq. Following the attack, operations along the conduit were temporarily halted.

While initial assessments indicated that two facilities had been impacted, satellite imagery analysis and three oil industry sources confirmed to Reuters that three of the pipeline's 11 pumping stations sustained damage. Projections for repairs vary: some industry sources anticipate a partial resumption of flows within days, but restoring full throughput capacity could take between five and six weeks.

The 1,200-kilometer pipeline has played a vital role in Saudi Arabia's export logistics in recent months, providing an essential bypass around the Strait of Hormuz amid severe maritime disruptions linked to regional conflict. The infrastructure typically carries between 4 million and 5 million barrels per day (bpd)—representing approximately 4% to 5% of total global supply.

A substantial portion of Saudi crude bound for Europe moves via the Red Sea corridor and Egypt's Sidi Kerir terminal on the Mediterranean. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), European OECD member states imported roughly 577,000 bpd of Saudi crude in June. These scheduled allocations are now facing a total cutoff for the month of October.

Although operational teams expect partial pumping to resume shortly, industry analysts note that the extended five-to-six-week timeline for full restoration directly compounds supply risks for European refiners already navigating tight alternative feedstocks.