Saudi Arabia’s jet fuel supplies to Europe are set to surpass pre-war highs this month, reported Reuters, citing data from shipping trackers Kpler and Vortexa.
The new boost is driven by the Kingdom’s Red Sea route, which has contributed to offsetting supply disruptions resulting from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Jet Fuel Exports
EU and UK jet fuel imports from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port hit their highest levels since August 2025 during the first week of June. Kpler data showed that shipments reached 118,000 bpd, while Vortexa tracking data estimated the flows as high as 140,000 bpd.
Prior to the June surge, the highest monthly average of the year had been in January, when imports stood at 77,000 bpd, according to Kpler.
The Middle East was Europe’s main supplier of jet fuel in 2025, delivering nearly 300,000 bpd through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Europe’s total jet fuel imports averaged 550,000 bpd, including supplies from India, Nigeria and the US, Kpler’s data showed.
Hormuz Blockade
The US-Israeli war with Iran, which broke out on February 28, 2026, has paralyzed transit via the Strait of Hormuz – a strategic waterway linking the Arabian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, through which around a fifth of daily global oil and LNG supplies pass.
Iran has partially closed the Strait, blocking transit without its permission and demanding an end to the US naval blockade on its ports. This has also disrupted the flow of goods, essential commodities and aid supplies.
Saudi Red Sea Routes
In response, Saudi Arabia bolstered connectivity through the Red Sea to bypass Hormuz. In light of this, the Kingdom launched the “Logistics Corridors Initiative” to reroute shipping from ports in the Arabian Gulf to the Kingdom’s Red Sea ports.
Moreover, it increased deliveries via the East-West Pipeline, which reached its maximum capacity of 7.0 million barrels per day in the first quarter of 2026.
It also introduced new shipping services to the Jeddah Islamic Port and launched a new multimodal land bridge connecting Europe, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through the Port of NEOM.
