Exclusive | First Chinese Supertanker Takes Red Sea Detour to Yanbu Port to Load Oil and Return Home Amid Middle East Oil Shipping Route Adjustments

WealthCoffee · 2026-03-16T13:17:12+00:00

China Merchants Heavy Industry's "Kaijing" vessel successfully transited the Mandeb Strait from the Red Sea, carrying 2.2 million barrels of crude oil and is scheduled to arrive in Fujian in early April. This is the first Chinese-owned VLCC to transport Middle Eastern oil back to China since the US-Israel-Iran conflict began. The vessel detoured to Saudi Arabia's Yanbu Port to complete loading due to security concerns en route.

WealthCoffee

2026-03-16 13:17:12

Abstract generation in progress

Caixin March 16, early morning, China Merchants Energy Shipping’s super oil tanker (VLCC) “Kai Jing” successfully transited the Red Sea’s Mandeb Strait. It is carrying 2.2 million barrels (300,000 tons) of crude oil and is expected to arrive at Fujian Meizhou Bay Port in early April. This is the first Chinese-funded VLCC to transport oil back from the Middle East Gulf region since the outbreak of the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.

“Kaijing” was originally scheduled to load crude oil at the Port of Fujeirah in the UAE on March 3, but due to an attack on the port by Iran, the loading plan was disrupted. The vessel had to detour thousands of miles to the port of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, located on the Red Sea, to complete the oil loading.

After “Kaijing,” China Merchants Energy Shipping’s “New Pioneer” VLCC also completed loading at Yanbu. Meanwhile, COSCO Shipping’s “New Lianyong” and “Yuanxin Lake” VLCCs are simultaneously loading oil at the port.

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