Aramco offers more crude cargoes from the Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir to bypass the Red Sea

Saudi Aramco has offered more crude cargoes for loading from Egypt's Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir as Houthi threats to shipping through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb escalate. According to Reuters on Thursday, July 23, 2026, citing five trading sources, the oil moves via Egypt's Ain Sukhna port and the SUMED pipeline to Sidi Kerir, with some cargoes offered on the spot market on top of long term contracts.

At the same time, some Asian buyers are in talks with Aramco to reroute Saudi cargoes around the Cape of Good Hope (around Africa), a route that adds about a month to the voyage from the Persian Gulf to Asian refineries. Aramco has declined to comment on the talks, and no final agreement has been announced.