{
  "id": 7271763,
  "title": "Saudi-Houthis clash: Traders expect Riyadh to run out of oil stocks soon if work on east-west pipeline doesn't resume",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/saudi-houthis-clash-traders-expect-riyadh-to-run-out-of-oil-stocks",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-14T08:01:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/world/saudihouthis-clash-traders-expect-riyadh-to-run-out-of-oil-stocks-soon-if-work-on-east-west-pipeline-doesnt-resume-11789372007752.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saudi oil traders anticipate the kingdom will run short of exportable oil if repairs to the crucial East-West pipeline to the Red Sea are not completed promptly. According to Reuters, this could lead to a global loss of up to 4% of oil supply, exacerbating the already soaring fuel prices and inflation worldwide. The pipeline, which has been offline since 11 September following Houthi attacks, is currently generating enough crude to sustain exports for five to seven days at the Red Sea port of Yanbu. However, without the pipeline, those reserves could be depleted within the same timeframe. Saudi Arabia has been using the pipeline to reroute around 4 million barrels per day, or 4% of global supply, to its Red Sea port. The kingdom also has reserves at Egypt's Ain Sukhna and Sidi Kerir ports on the Red Sea and Mediterranean, respectively, which could keep its customers supplied for several more days. Yet, without the pipeline, these backup stocks will eventually run dry. The region's oil output has already dropped to the lowest level in over three decades, with global supply expected to decline by 5.7 million barrels per day this year. The Houthi threat to Saudi oil shipments has also heightened concerns over supply disruptions. If Saudi Arabia cannot resume exports, it could further strain global oil supplies, leaving markets vulnerable to additional price pressures.",
  "summary": "Saudi Arabia faces the risk of exhausting oil stocks for exports within days if its key East-West pipeline to the Red Sea remains shut. The disruption could remove up to four per cent of global oil supply, adding pressure to already strained markets",
  "key_points": [
    "Saudi traders fear oil shortage if pipeline repairs delayed",
    "East-West pipeline offline since 11 September due to Houthi attacks",
    "Reserves at Yanbu port may last only 5-7 days without pipeline"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The disruption to Saudi Arabia's oil exports due to the damaged pipeline heightens the risk of a global oil shortage, exacerbating already high fuel prices and inflation worldwide.",
  "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."
}