Saudi total oil exports rose by 14 thousand barrels per day (b/d) to 8.21 million barrels per day (mb/d) in August from its May levels, according to data from The Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI-OIL), on Thursday, posting its highest level since April.
The increase was due to a rise in exports of oil products which reached 1.33 mb/d in August from 1.22 mb/d in the previous month, the report stated.
The attacks on Saudi Aramco on Sept. 14, crippled 5.7 mb/d of production, around 60% of Saudi oil output.
Due to the disruption in the world's largest crude exporter's output, oil prices jumped by as much as 20% in the global market. International benchmark Brent crude climbed to as high as $71.62 per barrel during early trading hours on Sept. 14 - its highest level since May 22.
Saudi Arabia announced the restoration of much of its production much faster than anticipated, surpassing 8 million barrels per day (bpd), just two weeks after the drone attacks.
While the capacity from the Abqaiq oil-processing facility was restored to 4.9 million barrels per day (mbpd), against the pre-attack capacity of 5.5 mbpd, production from the Khurais oil field is currently operating at 1.3 mbpd compared to the pre-attack level of 1.5 mbpd, according to the Riyadh administration.
On Sept. 17, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said his country aims to reach oil production of 11 mbpd by the end of September and up to 12 mbpd by the end of November.
By Busranur Begcecanli
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr