Saudi Arabia Restarts Loadings at Ras Tanura

Saudi Arabia has resumed crude oil loadings at its Ras Tanura export terminal on the Persian Gulf, restoring a key route for the kingdom’s seaborne shipments. Ship-tracking data on June 26, 2026 show two very large crude carriers moored and loading at single-point moorings at the facility.

These loadings represent the first tanker activity at Ras Tanura since early March 2026, when crude flows through the Persian Gulf were disrupted during the Iran war. The port’s reopening marks a significant operational change after several months of reliance on alternative export routes.

While Ras Tanura was inactive, Saudi Arabia maintained export volumes by diverting crude to its Red Sea outlets. To achieve this, the kingdom used a 746-mile (1,200-kilometer) pipeline running across the country, enabling shipments that bypassed the Strait of Hormuz.

Red Sea ports became a central channel for Saudi crude during the period when Persian Gulf ports were shuttered. Loadings at these outlets increased as Riyadh adjusted its logistics to sustain overseas deliveries despite regional conflict-related constraints.

The restart at Ras Tanura is part of a broader move by Saudi Arabia to increase crude shipments as Persian Gulf infrastructure reopens. With both Gulf ports coming back online and Red Sea outlets still active, the kingdom is expanding its available export capacity.

The return of Ras Tanura to service adds physical supply to global markets by restoring a major loading point that had been offline for nearly four months. This additional flow interacts with wartime dynamics, which had previously contributed to a risk premium in oil prices.

As crude loadings through Ras Tanura resume, market participants are watching how the increased Gulf export flows affect near-term supply-demand balances. The move signals a normalization of shipping patterns that were altered by the Iran war.

The combination of renewed Persian Gulf exports and continued use of Red Sea routes may ease some concerns about supply security that emerged when key Gulf ports were shuttered. These changes are an important factor in shaping expectations for oil price behavior as trade routes stabilize.