Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Saudi Pipeline Outage Threatens Four Percent of Global Oil Supply
A major pipeline in Saudi Arabia has stopped working after drone attacks.
The pipeline usually moves about 4 million barrels of oil each day.
That is about 4 percent of the world's oil supply.
It sends oil across the desert to the port of Yanbu.
Yanbu has enough stored oil to keep exporting for about five to seven more days.
Saudi Arabia also has some oil stored at ports in Egypt.
Those supplies will eventually run out if the pipeline does not restart.
Some sources think repairs could take five to six weeks, while another says pumping might resume sooner.
A longer outage could make the worldwide oil shortage worse and push prices higher.
Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline normally transports about 4 million barrels of oil per day.
That volume equals roughly 4 percent of global oil supply and is rerouted to Yanbu on the Red Sea.
Drone attacks forced the pipeline to shut down on Friday, but Saudi officials have not detailed the damage.
Yanbu has enough stock to maintain exports for only five to seven days, while other ports hold additional supplies.
Sources disagree on repairs, estimating either a quicker restart or as long as five to six weeks.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia, its oil export operations, Saudi oil buyers and traders, and industry sources cited in the report.
- What
- A major east-west oil pipeline is offline after drone attacks, threatening the continuation of exports equivalent to about 4 percent of global supply.
- When
- The shutdown began on Friday; Yanbu reportedly has five to seven days of export stock remaining.
- Where
- The pipeline crosses Saudi Arabia's desert and supplies Yanbu on the Red Sea; additional stocks are held at Ain Sukhna and Sidi Kerir in Egypt.
- Why
- Drone attacks forced the pipeline to close. Saudi Arabia has not publicly provided full details about the damage or the repair timeline.
Earlier Restart Assessment
Longer Outage Assessment
Repair timeline
Earlier Restart Assessment
One source said the pipeline could be fixed sooner and might resume pumping partially while repairs continue.
Longer Outage Assessment
Another source estimated that repairing the damage could take five to six weeks.
Near-term export risk
Earlier Restart Assessment
Additional stocks at Yanbu and Egyptian ports could help Saudi Arabia maintain exports for several days.
Longer Outage Assessment
Industry sources said those stocks are not full and will eventually run out unless the pipeline resumes.
Official information
Earlier Restart Assessment
A partial restart could limit the effect on oil flows, according to one source.
Longer Outage Assessment
Saudi officials have not released full details about the damage or how long the pipeline will remain offline.
- Pipeline throughput
- About 4 million barrels per day
- Share of global supply
- Roughly 4 percent
- Yanbu export stock
- Enough for approximately five to seven days
- Yanbu storage capacity
- About 35 million barrels
- Additional Egyptian storage
- Ain Sukhna holds about 18 million barrels and Sidi Kerir about 20 million barrels
- Repair estimates
- Sources gave estimates ranging from an earlier restart to five or six weeks of repairs
- Broader supply outlook
- The International Energy Agency said global oil supply could decline by 5.7 million barrels per day, or about 6 percent, this year
