Saudi Arabia is accelerating efforts to repair its damaged East-West oil pipeline, with the facility expected to return to full export capacity within around six weeks, Bloomberg reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.
According to the source, Saudi Aramco is working to bypass the damaged section of the pipeline, which would allow part of its capacity to resume operations sooner ahead of a full restart.
Market participants are closely watching the expected restart date and the volume of crude the pipeline will be able to carry for export, particularly after the route emerged as a key channel for oil shipments during the war.
Meanwhile, Aramco has increased crude sales from ports outside the Strait of Hormuz to offset part of the disrupted supplies. The company has sold about 20 million barrels to Asian refineries, including facilities in China, while delivery delays affecting some European customers have contributed to higher crude prices.
