Refining Under Fire: Can Saudi Fuel Exports Keep Moving?

Strait Talk: Thin diesel

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz removed around 4.5mn b/d of product and naphtha exports from normal trade routes, with jet fuel and naphtha among the most exposed commodities. While Saudi Arabia initially offset some of the disruption by increasing exports from its Red Sea refining system, recent developments have placed additional pressure on regional supply chains.

In this week's Strait Talk, Argus experts examine how the market has changed following the Houthi maritime ban on Saudi-linked shipping and attacks on key refining infrastructure. Product exports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have fallen sharply, while fresh warnings to shipowners and repeated attacks on the Jizan refinery have increased uncertainty for fuel exporters and buyers alike.

The discussion also explores whether Yanbu can compensate for lost volumes, how the East-West pipeline outage has complicated Saudi Arabia's response, and what soaring freight costs mean for refiners, traders and consumers.

Most importantly, our experts assess how these disruptions are affecting product prices today and where fuel and freight markets could be headed next.

Watch now for expert insight into the evolving challenges facing regional refining, shipping and fuel supply chains.