Saudi Aramco has restarted oil loading operations at its Ras Tanura terminal on the Persian Gulf, ending a four-month suspension caused by the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The resumption marks a significant operational shift for the world's largest crude exporter, which had been forced to divert shipments to its Red Sea port of Yanbu during the closure.
The move comes as commercial tankers begin returning to the waterway in greater numbers, driven by risk premiums that now compensate operators for the dangers of transit.
The return of Ras Tanura to full operational capacity is likely to ease immediate supply bottlenecks in the global oil market.
For months, the inability to export from Saudi Arabia's primary eastern hub has contributed to tighter regional supplies and supported higher benchmark prices.
With the terminal back online, the logistical friction that has underpinned the risk premium in Brent crude may begin to dissipate, provided the security situation in the Strait remains stable.