International Maritime Organization-certified consultant and auditor Haytham Chaaban said that Saudi Arabia is relatively less affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, given the existence of a pipeline to the Red Sea via Yanbu with a capacity of up to 7 million barrels per day, noting that Saudi ports on the Red Sea, such as Jeddah Islamic Port, have become key hubs for redistribution.
He added in an interview with Al Arabiya Business that Iran is the most affected in terms of oil due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, noting that the passage of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz currently requires the implicit approval of both Washington and Tehran, and not a unilateral decision by either of them.He continued: Iran's largest oil export port is located within the Persian Gulf, while outside the Gulf, Iran possesses only a small port that has not been operating at full capacity since 2024, and has limited export capabilities.
Therefore, it can be said that Iran is the biggest loser in terms of oil.
Chaaban pointed out that shipping companies cannot wait or keep their vessels anchored off the Strait of Hormuz or within the Arabian Gulf until it reopens. Ships are meant to sail and operate, not to be idled waiting for a breakthrough.
He added that from the moment the strait was closed, shipping companies began searching for alternative routes. This closure altered strategies for selecting ports and final destinations for unloading cargo. The container shipping sector was among the most affected.
He pointed out that some companies have chosen Saudi ports overlooking the Red Sea, most notably Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port, in addition to Omani ports, and the Emirati port of Khor Fakkan, as it is outside the Strait of Hormuz.
It is noted that the Saudi Ports Authority “Mawani” announced the addition of “CMA CGM” to the new “Ocean Rise” shipping service to Jeddah Islamic Port, as part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to enhance maritime connectivity between the Kingdom and the world and support the movement of national exports and imports, in cooperation with major international shipping lines.
The new shipping service connects Jeddah Islamic Port with the ports of Kobe, Nagoya and Yokohama in Japan, Xiamen and Yantian in China, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany, and Southampton Port in England, all the way to Jeddah Islamic Port, in addition to Nansha in China, with a capacity of up to 3001 standard containers.
Source : Al Arabiya
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