# Saudi Arabia reroutes oil to ease supply fears

> After a pipeline attack, Saudi Arabia shifts crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz, calming markets about global supply disruptions.
- Title: Saudi Arabia reroutes oil to ease supply fears · CNBC
- Summary: After a pipeline attack, Saudi Arabia shifts crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz, calming markets about global supply disruptions. Saudi Arabia is…
- Keywords: breaking, saudi arabia, oil prices, strait of hormuz, pipeline attack, crude exports, brent crude, west texas intermediate, energy markets, iran, middle east, supply disruption
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/17/oil-prices-today-wti-brent-hormuz-iran-war.html
- Author: Spencer Kimball,Lee Ying Shan
- Published: 2026-09-17T01:59:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, saudi arabia, oil prices, strait of hormuz, pipeline attack, crude exports, brent crude, west texas intermediate, energy markets, iran, middle east, supply disruption
## Pipeline attack disrupts Saudi exports
Saudi Arabia closed its East-West pipeline after a drone attack from Iraq damaged it last week. The outage threatens to disrupt global oil supplies.
## Oil prices fall on rerouting news
Brent crude dropped one dollar one cent to close at 104 dollars 82 cents per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate fell 52 cents to 101 dollars 91 cents.
## Saudis shift crude through Hormuz
Saudi Arabia is making additional crude available to Asian refiners through ship-to-ship transfers near Oman's Sohar port, avoiding the risk of Iranian attack in the Gulf.
## Ship transfers surge in Gulf
Ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman have risen to 2.7 million barrels per day from 1.5 million in August. Saudi crude loadings at Gulf ports are also up this month.
## Repair timeline remains uncertain
The U.S. Energy Secretary says the outage is temporary and measured in days. But independent analysts warn repairs could take weeks or months.
## Risks remain if disruption extends
Rapidan Energy expects Saudi exports to fall 400,000 barrels per day this month. Risks grow if the outage extends past September or attacks escalate.

> Risk remains skewed toward a larger disruption if the pipeline outage extends past September or Iran, the Houthis, or other proxy groups escalate attacks.
## Key takeaway

Saudi Arabia is compensating for a damaged pipeline by routing more oil through the Strait of Hormuz via ship transfers, which is easing immediate concerns about supply shortages.