Market brief · Economy & rates

Saudi Export Pivot Sends Brent Below $105

Saudi Aramco shifts crude exports to the Persian Gulf, easing supply fears and pushing Brent below $105. Friday, September 18, 2026 Last week’s market panic about the 7 million b/d East-West pipeline remaining offline for weeks gave way to a slightly more nuanced outlook this week, with Saudi Aramco re-orienting all its loadings to the Persian Gulf. Whilst flows from Ras Tanura still carry the risk of potential Iranian drone strikes in the Strait, the fact that Saudi Aramco keeps on offering crude to Asian buyers (in contrast to its Europeans…