Saudi Aramco resumed crude loadings at its Ras Tanura terminal on Friday, with two Very Large Crude Carriers taking on oil and a third waiting nearby, according to LSEG shipping data. The operation marks the first activity at the Gulf facility since 8 March, when Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—triggered by the war with the United States and Israel—forced a near-total halt. The resumption comes days after an interim ceasefire deal between Washington and Tehran, which has allowed Gulf producers to begin restoring export flows.

Ras Tanura normally handles roughly 90 percent of Saudi crude exports, making its closure a severe bottleneck. During the four-month disruption, Riyadh diverted limited volumes to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, but overall petroleum liquids production fell from over 12 million barrels per day to around 8 million bpd, according to International Energy Agency figures cited by Iranian state-aligned media. The ceasefire has enabled a partial recovery, with total Gulf exports now at about 75 percent of pre-war levels, though the Saudi ramp-up remains constrained by damage to the Ras Tanura refinery and nearby oilfields that were targeted during the conflict.

Viewed from Riyadh, the terminal’s reopening is a strategic priority to reclaim market share in Asia, where China and India are the kingdom’s largest customers. Energy analysts in London note that while the resumption eases immediate logistical pressures, the global crude market remains tight. Insurance premiums for Gulf shipments are still elevated, and traders are cautious about the durability of the interim truce. A full normalisation of Saudi export capacity will require not only a formal peace agreement but also significant repairs to damaged infrastructure.

The next factual milestone is the pace at which Aramco can restore production to pre-war levels and whether the Strait of Hormuz remains open without incident. The interim deal’s implementation and any move toward a permanent ceasefire will be closely watched by both energy markets and regional governments.