Strait of Hormuz disruption: Pakistan seeks Saudi oil supplies via Yanbu port

Pakistan has asked Saudi Arabia to ​route oil supplies through the Red Sea ‌port of Yanbu after the closure of ​the Strait of Hormuz disrupted ⁠shipping, the Petroleum Ministry said in a press release on Wednesday (March 4, 2026).

The request comes as war in ‌West Asia has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a ‌critical global chokepoint through which a large ‌share ⁠of the world’s oil and most ⁠of Pakistan’s fuel imports pass, raising concerns about supply security for import-dependent economies.

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” Saudi ​Arabian sources had assured ‌security of supplies through the Port of Yanbu on the Red Sea, which can help meet energy requirements,” read a release, ‌adding that one vessel has been ​arranged to sail to Yanbu to lift crude for Pakistan.

“Riyadh reaffirmed that ⁠it would support Pakistan in meeting its emergency energy needs,” it added. “Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz ‌Malik raised the issue in a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki,” according to a Ministry statement.

The Minister said most of Pakistan’s energy imports transit through the Strait of ‌Hormuz and the government was monitoring the situation ​closely to ensure the continuity of supplies.

Saudi Arabia has also been seeking ⁠to divert some crude exports to the Red ⁠Sea port of Yanbu to bypass Hormuz as shipping through the strait ‌slows due to the conflict, according to sources familiar with the matter.