Four Saudi Supertankers Exit Hormuz Strait Carrying Approximately 8 Million Barrels of Crude
Miles Bennett
Four Saudi supertankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday carrying a combined ~8 million barrels of crude — the largest single-day convoy since the US-Iran interim ceasefire — as Riyadh pivots to rare spot sales to grab market share.
How big is this convoy?
All four tankers belong to Saudi shipping giant Bahri, each over 300 meters long — VLCC-class vessels (very large crude carriers, each holding roughly 2 million barrels).
They entered the Persian Gulf late last month, loaded at Saudi Arabia's main export hub, Ras Tanura — one of the world's largest crude-export facilities — and carried out a combined ~8 million barrels.
This means → a single convoy moved roughly one full day of Saudi export volume, sending an unmistakable supply signal.
Why spot sales instead of long-term contracts?
Bloomberg reported that Saudi Aramco sold at least 6 million barrels to Asian buyers via ad-hoc spot deals, departing from its usual long-term contract model.
In plain terms = Saudi Arabia normally sells oil on "annual subscriptions" — fixed contracts, scheduled deliveries. Suddenly offering large volumes on the spot market is the equivalent of a bulk retailer undercutting its own loyalty program to win new customers.
This reflects Riyadh's push to seize market share during the ceasefire window, rather than waiting for trade flows to normalize on their own.
Is the Strait of Hormuz safe now?
About two weeks after the US-Iran interim ceasefire took effect, transit volumes are recovering steadily; vessels generally pass in convoy formation.
Most use the US-managed sea lane through Omani territorial waters; some opt for routes closer to the Iranian coast.
This means → the strait is not fully back to normal — convoy transits themselves signal that security still requires coordination — but throughput is rebuilding quickly.
What should the market watch next?
A handful of Saudi tankers remain inside the Persian Gulf: two are anchored near Ras Tanura showing fully laden drafts, and a third appears to have finished loading but has not yet updated its draft data.
Outbound tanker traffic continues to exceed inbound, meaning the export pace is accelerating.
In plain terms = if these loaded tankers keep queuing to exit, supply-side pressure on crude prices will intensify — a bearish signal for oil.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.