Saudi Aramco tells European term buyers they will get no October crude after pipeline attack
On 18 Sep 2026, market reports said Saudi Aramco notified European term customers they will receive no crude deliveries in October after a Sept 10 drone attack shut the East–West pipeline. Traders say the company is rerouting barrels to Asia, leaving Europe with zero October allocations under long-term contracts.
The desk brief
On 18 Sep 2026, market reports said Saudi Aramco notified European term customers they will receive no crude deliveries in October after a Sept 10 drone attack shut the East–West pipeline. Traders say the company is rerouting barrels to Asia, leaving Europe with zero October allocations under long-term contracts.
The cutoff is a regional routing shock: Mediterranean-bound Saudi barrels that traverse Yanbu and SUMED to Sidi Kerir are unavailable to Europe and the Mediterranean basin. That can raise delivered crude and refined-product costs into Mediterranean supply hubs (notably via Sidi Kerir), tighten diesel availability, and increase cost pressures for import-dependent African refiners and fuel-importing economies that source via the Mediterranean gateway in Egypt.
Whether any crude actually loads at Yanbu (partial restart) and who wins remaining North Sea/CPC cargoes for October.
Sources & verification
Developing storyFurther independent confirmation is required.
- Saudi Arabia Notifies Europe They Will Not Be Getting October Deliveries - Energy News BeatbloombergSource published (opens in a new tab)
- Saudi Arabia halts all crude exports to Europeinvezz.comSource published (opens in a new tab)
Public references supporting this brief.