After a Three Week Pause, Aramco Resumes Tanker Loadings Through the Strait of Hormuz

According to Oilprice.com, published Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (27 Mordad 1405), Saudi Aramco resumed crude loadings from its Ras Tanura and Juaymah terminals inside the Strait of Hormuz last week, ending a three week pause in activity at those ports. Citing data from ship tracking firms Kpler and Vortexa reported by Reuters, three VLCCs, the Malaysia Prosperity, Algeria Prosperity and Singapore Prosperity, each loaded roughly two million barrels between August 12 and 16 (21 to 25 Mordad). Provisional Kpler data shows six more VLCCs could load Saudi crude from inside Hormuz later this month.

Oilprice.com also reported that seven VLCCs operated by Saudi Arabia's Bahri were anchored off the UAE and Oman on Tuesday, with two more heading toward Fujairah, evidence traders said suggests Aramco may also use Saudi controlled tankers for future Hormuz transits. The shift follows Aramco's weeks long halt of exports from inside the strait after earlier attacks on its tanker fleet amid the escalation of the US Iran war.