Saudi Arabia has significantly increased oil exports through the Sumed pipeline across Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea, with exports from Sidi Kerir port more than doubling to about 2.3 million barrels per day in August from 1 million bpd last month. This strategic shift aims to bypass the Red Sea, where Houthi attacks have pressured exports from the port of Yanbu through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which saw a nearly 90% drop in Saudi exports to 1.3 million barrels during the week of August 3. The majority of the crude rerouted through Sidi Kerir is heading to the U.S. and Europe, rather than Asia, indicating a longer and more expensive journey around Africa for Asian customers.