Oil prices fall 2% on easing fears over Saudi supply disruption

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Oil Prices Fall for Third Day on Easing Saudi Supply Fears

   Global crude prices dropped for a third consecutive trading session as markets grew confident that Saudi Arabia can limit supply disruptions following recent attacks on its energy infrastructure. Brent crude retreated below $104 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate slipped. The downward movement came as Saudi Arabia rushed to repair a damaged oil pipeline and diplomatic pressure eased geopolitical war premiums. Traders weighed these repair efforts against ongoing security concerns involving Houthi attacks in the region, ultimately driving the multi-day sell-off.

   Why it matters

   Energy markets have monitored heightened vulnerabilities across Middle Eastern supply routes following a week of Houthi attacks threatening Saudi oil installations and the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Supply fears previously drove up war premiums across global commodities before diplomatic interventions and repair operations began to restore market confidence. The recent price correction reflects changing trader sentiment as physical infrastructure recovery takes precedence over regional escalation fears.

   What is confirmed

   • International oil prices fell for a third consecutive trading day.
   • WTI crude settled down 0.51% at $101.91 per barrel.
   • Brent crude slipped below $104 per barrel, down 0.95%.
   • China asked Iran to limit attacks by Houthi rebels on Saudi oil facilities following a request from Saudi Arabia.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Traders debated whether the United States has completely abandoned the Bab al-Mandeb strait to Houthi forces.

   What to watch next

   • Progress reports on the Saudi oil pipeline repair and restart timeline
   • Further diplomatic engagement between China, Iran, and regional actors regarding Houthi activity
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. Al Jazeera — ‘They called us’: Has Trump abandoned Bab al-Mandeb to the Houthis?
   2. Reuters — Oil prices fall 1% on hopes of limited supply disruptions
   3. CNBC — Oil prices fall as Saudi supply hopes outweigh fresh Houthi strikes
   4. NPR — What to know after a week of Houthi attacks that threaten Saudi oil
   5. WSJ — Oil Prices Fall for Third Day as WTI Slips Below $100
   6. finance.biggo.com — Saudi Arabia Rushes to Repair Oil Pipeline as Crude Prices Fall for Third Straight Session
   7. www.jamessharp.co.uk — 18th September 2026
   8. lufkindailynews.com — Oil slides after China asks Iran to limit Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities
   9. www.straitstimes.com — S&P 500, Nasdaq advance, turning the page on a tumultuous week
   10. www.rte.ie — Oil prices edge lower on easing fears over Saudi supply disruption
   11. hdfcsky.com — Brent Slips Below $104 as Saudi Pipeline Restart Hopes Cool War Premium; MCX Crude Ends Week at ₹9,688, Petrol Prices Frozen
   confidence 95%