Aramco Earns $32.5 Billion in Q1 After Bypassing Hormuz Disruptions

Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco has reported a 25 percent jump in first-quarter profit as rising global oil prices and strategic export rerouting boosted earnings amid continued tensions in the Middle East.

The company announced on Sunday that its net profit for the first quarter of 2026 rose to about $32.5 billion, compared with roughly $26 billion during the same period last year. Revenues also climbed significantly as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz pushed crude prices above $100 per barrel.

Aramco said it successfully redirected a large portion of its oil exports through Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, allowing shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz; one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes currently affected by the ongoing Iran-related conflict. The pipeline transports crude oil from the kingdom’s eastern oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

The Strait of Hormuz normally handles nearly 20 percent of global seaborne oil trade, and recent disruptions have triggered fears of supply shortages across international energy markets. Brent crude prices surged sharply in recent weeks as investors reacted to instability in the Gulf region.

Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said the company’s performance reflected its operational resilience and ability to maintain exports despite geopolitical uncertainty. He warned, however, that the global oil market could take months to stabilize fully even if tensions ease immediately.

According to company figures, the East-West Pipeline operated at its full capacity of around seven million barrels per day during the quarter. Despite the rerouting effort, analysts say the disruption in Gulf shipping continues to affect energy supply chains worldwide.

Aramco also maintained its quarterly dividend payout of nearly $21.9 billion, underlining the company’s importance to Saudi Arabia’s economy, as the kingdom remains the majority shareholder in the oil giant.