Saudi Aramco has increased its oil handling and export capacity on the Red Sea coast by 3 million barrels a day (b/d) by commissioning the new Yanbu South Terminal (YST).

The first very-large crude carrier (VLCC) was loaded from YST on 12 October, Aramco said in a statement.

YST is located south of Yanbu city on Saudi Arabia’s western coast. It comprises a tank farm and offshore facilities to receive, store and load Arab Light (AL) and Arab Super Light (ASL) crude grades.

The terminal project was designed and executed in accordance with Aramco’s latest engineering standards and specifications, it said in its statement.

Aramco was compelled to suspend oil export operations through the Red Sea channel, after two of its VLCCs passing though the Bab el-Mandeb strait near Yemen were attacked by Houthi militants on 26 July.

Aramco shipments bound for customer destinations resumed on 4 August.