Saudi Aramco Cuts Oil Exports to Asia for Second Consecutive Month

Saudi Aramco has reduced oil deliveries to Asia for the second straight month, with April shipments following February's decline when exports from Saudi Arabia reached 7.108 million barrels per day. The state oil giant's supply cuts come amid heightened tensions in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, where geopolitical pressures involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have raised concerns about regional energy security. The Strait of Hormuz serves as a critical chokepoint for global oil transportation, handling about one-third of the world's seaborne oil shipments, making any disruption in the region significant for international energy markets and particularly for Asian economies that heavily depend on Middle Eastern oil imports.