Saudi Aramco Will Cancel October Crude Deliveries
Drone attacks on the East-West pipeline will force Saudi Aramco to cut supplies to two European refineries.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Saudi Aramco will halt October crude oil deliveries to at least two European refiners following drone attacks that damaged critical infrastructure. The strikes forced the shutdown of the Saudi East-West pipeline and disrupted loadings at the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
Why it matters
The pipeline shutdown has disrupted global supply chains, requiring refiners like Orlen to seek alternative crude grades from the North Sea. Aramco is currently mitigating the shortfall by utilizing ship-to-ship transfers off the coast of Oman.
Drone attacks disabled 3 pumping stations along the East-West pipeline, prompting a major shift in logistics. The company expects to restore full pipeline capacity within 6 weeks to address the export shortfall.
The players
Saudi Aramco
This is a Saudi Arabian public petroleum and natural gas company that is one of the largest oil producers in the world.
Orlen
This is a Polish multinational oil refiner and petrol retailer that operates throughout Central Europe.
The details
The attacks caused the immediate cessation of crude oil transit, necessitating the cancellation of scheduled European shipments. To compensate for the loss of volume at the Yanbu port, Saudi Aramco has initiated ship-to-ship crude transfers near Sohar, Oman.
Timeline
September 2026: Delivery cancellation reports were published.
October 2026: Scheduled crude oil deliveries will be cancelled.
Late September 2026: A partial restart of the pipeline is projected.
Late October 2026: The pipeline is expected to reach full capacity.
Market Landscape
This disruption mirrors the historical vulnerability of Saudi oil infrastructure established by the 2019 Abqaiq-Khurais drone attacks. Such incidents consistently force global energy markets to recalibrate supply routes and test the resilience of major exporters.
European refineries may face increased operational costs as they source replacement crude from alternative markets. Customers of these refineries should watch for potential impacts on fuel supply and pricing stability throughout the affected month.
The takeaway
Energy security remains highly susceptible to localized sabotage of transport infrastructure in major oil-producing regions. Maintaining diversified supply sources and strategic reserves is essential for refiners to survive these sudden logistical shocks.
What happens next
Aramco expects to achieve a partial restart of the pipeline in late September 2026 and reach full operational capacity by late October 2026.
Further reading
For broader trends in energy supply and infrastructure, see our Oil and Gas section.
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Do you expect energy prices to become more unstable following recent global pipeline disruptions?
