Saudi Arabia returns to Strait of Hormuz as bypass route falters

Saudi Arabia is returning to the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports after attacks disrupted a Red Sea route developed to reduce reliance on the strategic waterway.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Saudi Aramco is loading more crude onto tankers in the Persian Gulf and sending shipments through Hormuz despite security risks.

The state-controlled oil producer has also told several Asian customers to collect shipments outside the strait, near Oman, people familiar with the matter said.

Saudi Arabia had spent months moving oil across the desert through its East-West pipeline to bypass Hormuz and export through the Red Sea.

However, attacks affecting the Red Sea route have disrupted that strategy, leaving the kingdom temporarily more dependent on Hormuz. Oil flows through the alternative route could resume later this week.