Saudi Arabia’s oil production slumps to lowest in 36 years as war bites

September 10, 2026

Saudi Arabia has reported to OPEC that its oil production plunged to its lowest since 1990 last month as the kingdom’s export routes have been squeezed by attacks by Iran and Yemen’s Houthi militia.

A picture taken on September 15, 2019 shows an Aramco oil facility near al-Khurj area, just south of the Saudi capital Riyadh. Saudi Arabia raced today to restart operations at oil plants hit by drone attacks which slashed its production by half, as Iran dismissed US claims it was behind the assault.
The Tehran-backed Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is bogged down in a five-year war, have claimed thi weekend’s strikes on two plants owned by state giant Aramco in eastern Saudi Arabia. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)