Saudi Arabia imported 1.23 million metric tons of Russian fuel oil and vacuum gasoil in May. While this figure represents a 17% decline from April, the kingdom remains the largest single buyer, accounting for over one-third of Russia’s total exports. This dependence intensified in March 2026, when regional conflict forced widespread shut-ins of Middle Eastern oil and gas wells, leaving Saudi power plants in need of alternative feedstocks.

By burning imported Russian fuel oil, Riyadh protects its domestic crude reserves. This strategic shift has allowed the kingdom to maximize exports via the East-West pipeline, which increased its capacity from 2 million to 7 million barrels per day. These flows exit through the Yanbu port, successfully bypassing the volatile Strait of Hormuz. Although Russian export volumes fell 6% overall in May due to Ukrainian strikes on domestic energy infrastructure, the Saudi-Russian trade corridor remains a critical buffer for global energy supplies.