{
  "id": 3583532,
  "title": "Aramco Finds a New Way to Keep Saudi Crude Flowing to China",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/aramco-finds-a-new-way-to-keep-saudi-crude-flowing-to-china",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-26T20:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "OilPrice",
    "slug": "oilprice",
    "url": "https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Aramco-Finds-a-New-Way-to-Keep-Saudi-Crude-Flowing-to-China.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saudi Arabia is finding new ways to ensure its crude oil reaches Asia despite challenges in the Strait of Hormuz. The state-owned Saudi Aramco is utilizing ship-to-ship transfers to deliver Saudi crude to Asian buyers, bypassing the problematic strait entirely. According to Reuters, Aramco has been selling Arab Medium and Arab Heavy crude to Asian buyers through this method for two weeks straight. China has been a significant buyer, with two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) carrying a total of 4 million barrels of Saudi crude set to arrive at Ningbo and Zhanjiang ports. One vessel is expected at Ningbo on September 15, while the other arrives at Zhanjiang on September 12, both destined for Sinopec. This innovative approach signifies Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to maintain crude oil exports despite compromised export routes. After halting loading operations at Ras Tanura and Juaymah due to the situation, Aramco has resumed shipments, while also routing additional crude westward using the East-West pipeline and Egypt's Sidi Kerir terminal to cater to European customers, thus avoiding the Hormuz route. This ship-to-ship arrangement effectively divides the journey, allowing Aramco to tackle the hazardous leg first, before transferring the cargo to buyers outside the strait. This method, although not a return to pre-existing oil trade, ensures that Saudi crude reaches China once more, with the strait's challenges now solely Aramco's concern.",
  "summary": "Saudi Arabia is not waiting for the Strait of Hormuz to return to normal to deliver its crude to Asia. It is building a workaround, one tanker handoff at a time. Saudi Aramco is offering more September crude to Asian buyers through ship-to-ship transfers outside Hormuz, according to Reuters, after shipping data showed Saudi barrels moving through the strait aboard tankers with their tracking…",
  "key_points": [
    "Saudi Aramco uses ship-to-ship transfers to deliver crude to Asia",
    "China receives 4 million barrels of Saudi crude via this method",
    "Aramco resumes shipments via East-West pipeline and Sidi Kerir terminal"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}