{
  "id": 725568,
  "title": "Saudi oil exports ‘go dark’ amid Houthi threat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/saudi-oil-exports-go-dark-amid-houthi-threat-725568",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-13T02:38:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2022503/saudi-oil-exports-go-dark-amid-houthi-threat"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "DUBAI: Saudi crude exports from the Red Sea are disappearing from view as tankers deactivate tracking signals in response to Yemeni Houthis' attacks, according to analysts. The Houthis imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20, targeting the US and allies in the Iran conflict. Conflicting data from ship-tracking firms has made it difficult to gauge the impact on Saudi crude flows. Last week, Vortexa estimated Yanbu loadings at 2.38 million barrels per day, Kpler estimated a drop to 1.78m bpd, while AXSMarine calculated an increase to 850,000 bpd. In the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, vessel numbers have decreased from 50 to 32. Saudi Arabia is now rerouting oil through the Suez Canal or Egypt's SUMED pipeline, with Sidi Kerir loadings reaching a record 2.17m bpd, 90% of which is Saudi crude. Iran and the US remain at odds over efforts to end the war in the Gulf, with no progress made on extending their ceasefire.",
  "summary": "• Tankers in Red Sea switch off tracking to evade attacks; conflicting data clouds scale of export disruption • Tehran says no major progress in talks with Washington • Trump claims US has total control over Hormuz DUBAI: Saudi crude exports from the Red Sea are increasingly vanishing from view as tankers switch off tracking signals to avoid attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, with analysts saying all…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn Business",
        "title": "Saudi oil exports ‘go dark’ amid Houthi threat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/saudi-oil-exports-go-dark-amid-houthi-threat",
        "published": "2026-08-13T02:38:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}