{
  "id": 1696949,
  "title": "Saudi Arabia resumes oil loadings, sales from inside Strait of Hormuz",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/saudi-arabia-resumes-oil-loadings-sales-from-inside-strait-of-hormuz",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T10:53:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40435376/saudi-arabia-resumes-oil-loadings-sales-from-inside-strait-of-hormuz"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saudi Aramco resumed oil loading from inside the Strait of Hormuz last week, with numerous tankers awaiting to offload. The state energy giant is offering spot heavy crude cargoes, including Arab Medium and Arab Heavy grades, to Asian refiners through ship-to-ship transfers off Fujairah in the UAE. This move comes after Saudi Arabia halted sales for weeks following attacks on its tanker fleet during the U.S.-Iran conflict escalation.\n\nThree very large crude carriers (VLCCs) - Malaysia Prosperity, Algeria Prosperity, and Singapore Prosperity - loaded 2 million barrels each from the Juaymah and Ras Tanura terminals between August 12 and 16. Vortexa and Kpler data revealed a three-week gap since the last loading at the ports. However, it remains unclear which grades the tankers are carrying.\n\nSaudi Aramco has not commented on the matter, while Sinokor, the tanker's owner, did not respond to a request for information. Six more VLCCs are expected to load Saudi oil from inside the strait later in the month, according to provisional data from Kpler. Traders suggest that Saudi Aramco could use Saudi tankers for the Hormuz transit, apart from Sinokor vessels.\n\nHowever, Saudi oil exports remain limited due to a blockade by Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea. Aramco has diverted its exports to the port of Yanbu, while facing additional shipping costs and longer voyages. Saudi oil exports to Asia are expected to be around 670,000 barrels per day this month, down from zero in the previous three months.",
  "summary": "SINGAPORE: Saudi Aramco resumed oil loading from inside the Strait of Hormuz last week and has more tankers waiting to load as the state energy giant offers spot heavy crude cargoes, according to shipping data and trade sources. On Monday, the world’s top oil exporter offered some Asian refiners Arab Medium and Arab Heavy crude cargoes for loading via ship-to-ship transfers off Fujairah in the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Saudi Gazette Business",
        "title": "Mannai Information Technology Saudi Arabia lays the foundation for long-term growth in the Kingdom",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/mannai-information-technology-saudi-arabia-lays-the-foundation-for",
        "published": "2026-08-17T16:36:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arabian Business",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia jobs: New 70% Saudization rule announced for 3 professions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/saudi-arabia-jobs-new-70-saudization-rule-announced-for-3-professions",
        "published": "2026-08-18T00:09:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Aramco and Maaden form venture to tap Saudi Arabia’s $2.5 trillion mineral wealth",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/aramco-and-maaden-form-venture-to-tap-saudi-arabias-2-5-trillion",
        "published": "2026-08-18T14:11:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}