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Market Chatter: Saudi Arabia Builds Yanbu Crude Volumes Ahead of Tanker Loading Restart

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Saudi Arabia is ramping up crude flows through its East-West Pipeline after a drone attack halted operations earlier this month, but tanker loadings at Yanbu remain suspended, Reuters reported Thursday, citing industry sources, satellite imagery and shipping data.

Crude is flowing through the pipeline to Saudi refineries on the Red Sea coast, while Aramco has told European refiners it is building sufficient volumes at Yanbu before resuming deliveries. Pressure checks will determine when the pipeline can take rising crude volumes, with testing expected to take several days, according to the report.

Satellite imagery taken Tuesday showed a Very Large Crude Carrier at Yanbu's North Terminal and a Suezmax at the South Terminal, while Kpler data showed six tankers scheduled to load Sept. 24-27, after two missed Sept. 23 loadings, the report said.

Saudi Aramco did not immediately reply to' request for comment.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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