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Market Chatter: Saudi Arabia's Oil Loadings Surge as Four Ships Arrive at Key Terminals

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Saudi Arabia's oil loadings appear to be surging, with 7 million barrels of capacity loading on Tuesday, as four ships were anchored at Ras Tanura and Ju'aymah, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing satellite images.

Saudi Arabia's oil flows averaged 3.23 million barrels per day in August through Aug. 23, below May's 3.65 million b/d level and on track for a new low, Bloomberg reported, citing vessel-tracking data from Kpler and Vortexa. Saudi Arabia has boosted exports from Egypt's Sidi Kerir port to 2.1 million b/d in August, up from 700,000 b/d in the first six months of 2026.

Only three of seven crude berths at Saudi Arabia's two Yanbu terminals were occupied on average from July 22, versus five between May 28 and July 17, while tankers also got smaller, with more Aframax vessels carrying about one-third as much crude as very large crude carriers, the report said.

Saudi Aramco and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy 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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