Empty supertankers are heading to Egypt's Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir to load Saudi Arabian oil, as the number of vessels entering Saudi Arabia's main export terminal in the Red Sea has significantly decreased due to threats from Yemeni Houthis. This was reported by Bloomberg.
According to the news agency, at least eight very large crude carriers (VLCCs) have designated Sidi Kerir as their destination and are expected to arrive there in the coming weeks. The article notes that state-owned Saudi Aramco has begun offering larger volumes of oil for export through the Egyptian port after Houthi forces, backed by Iran, attacked a vessel in the Red Sea last week.
According to navigation service data cited by Bloomberg, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Bidbid is currently en route to Sidi Kerir and is expected to load oil there today for transport to Asia. Two other tankers, VL Bright and Taga, were initially heading to the U.S. but unexpectedly changed their route and are now heading to the Egyptian port. Meanwhile, in recent months, Taga has primarily sailed to Japan.
The remaining five vessels heading to Sidi Kerir, as reported by the news agency, are managed by the South Korean private group Sinokor Group, which has become one of the most active operators in the Strait of Hormuz since the onset of the Iran-Israel conflict at the end of February.
According to Bloomberg, over the past week, primarily Chinese vessels and tankers from countries with friendly relations with Iran have continued to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Western shipping companies and more cautious Asian shipping firms have preferred longer and more expensive routes.
