Why are supertankers diverting to Egypt's Sidi Kerir instead of Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port?

Supertankers are diverting to Egypt’s Sidi Kerir because Houthi militant threats and attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted operations at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu export hub, prompting Saudi Aramco to increase oil offerings from Sidi Kerir; additionally, some shipowners are avoiding Saudi ports due to insurance restrictions linked to attack risks, and oil is being rerouted via the SUMED pipeline from Ain Sukhna on the Red Sea to Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean.

How is Saudi crude reaching Sidi Kerir for export, given that Yanbu is on the Red Sea and Sidi Kerir is on the Mediterranean?

Saudi crude reaches Sidi Kerir by first being loaded onto tankers at Yanbu on the Red Sea, then transported to the Egyptian Red Sea port of Ain Sukhna, and finally pumped north through the Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline (SUMED) to the Mediterranean export hub at Sidi Kerir.

Tankers Divert to Egypt as Houthi Threat Upends Red Sea Trade

Jul 27, 2026

Saudi Aramco redirects crude exports to Egypt's Sidi Kerir port following Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, prompting tankers to avoid traditional routes and face higher insurance costs.

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