Saudi Petroline Reaches Full 7 Million Barrel Daily Capacity

Saudi Arabia’s East–West crude oil pipeline, known as the Petroline, is now operating at its full design capacity of 7 million barrels per day.

The overland system spans around 1,200 kilometres, running from Abqaiq to the Red Sea export terminal at Yanbu through twin pipelines measuring 48 inches and 56 inches in diameter.

The route provides an alternative export corridor that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, allowing crude shipments to reach global markets without transiting the Gulf.

Originally built in 1981 with a capacity of 5 million barrels per day, the system was expanded to 7 million barrels per day in 2019 after Saudi Aramco converted parallel natural gas liquids lines to carry crude oil following attacks on the Abqaiq processing facility.

This marks the first time the pipeline has sustained flows at full capacity since the upgrade.

Amin Nasser, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Aramco, had indicated earlier in March that the system would reach full capacity within days during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call.

At full throughput, the pipeline carries volumes equivalent to roughly 7% of global crude oil consumption.

By linking eastern production facilities to the Red Sea, the Petroline enables exports northward through the Suez Canal towards European and Mediterranean markets, as well as southward to East Africa and Asia.

Yanbu serves as the western export hub for these flows, while Abqaiq remains the primary processing centre at the eastern end of the network.