At least two Asian crude buyers are negotiating with Aramco to reroute shipments
around Africa after Houthi attacks on tankers in the Red Sea, traders said.
Refiners are considering bypassing the Bab al-Mandeb, including sourcing barrels
from Egypt’s Sidi Kerir in the eastern Mediterranean instead of Saudi Arabia’s
Red Sea hub at Yanbu. Aramco could move cargoes from Yanbu to Egypt’s Ain Sokhna
for northbound pipeline transfer, or buyers could take delivery at Yanbu and
arrange Egyptian onward logistics themselves. Talks are ongoing and no final
decision has been made.
