Anabelle Colaco
12 May 2026

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Aramco reported a 25 percent increase in first-quarter profit after higher oil prices and export shifts helped the company navigate disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the war in Iran.

The state-owned oil giant said over the weekend that net profit for the three months ended March 31 rose to US$32.5 billion, up from the same period a year earlier.

Aramco said it redirected part of its crude exports through Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, which runs from oil fields in the kingdom's Eastern Province to the Red Sea, allowing shipments to bypass the troubled Strait of Hormuz.

Company President and CEO Amin Nasser said the pipeline is now operating at its full capacity of seven million barrels per day.

Nasser said the system is "helping to mitigate the impact of a global energy shock and providing relief to customers."

Even at maximum capacity, the pipeline handles only part of Aramco's overall output. The company produced 11.1 million barrels of oil per day in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 2.58 percent on Sunday to $103.91 a barrel. Prices had climbed above $119 during the conflict, compared with about $70 in late February before the fighting began.

Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the world's traded oil moved through the Strait of Hormuz each day, along with substantial volumes of natural gas, fertilizer, and other petroleum products.

The vital shipping lane was severely disrupted after Iran asserted control over the waterway following U.S. and Israeli strikes launched on February 28. A U.S. naval blockade introduced last month has added to the challenges facing vessels in the region.

"Recent events have clearly demonstrated the vital contribution of oil and gas to energy security and the global economy, and are a stark reminder that reliable energy supply is critical," Nasser said in a statement.

"Despite these headwinds, Aramco remains focused on its strategic priorities and is leveraging both its domestic infrastructure and its global network to navigate disruption."

The strong quarterly performance follows Aramco's 12 percent decline in full-year profit for 2025.