A shorter oil supply route from the Middle East to Europe can be created by using the Suez Canal and the SUMED pipeline in Egypt instead of sending tankers all the way around Africa. These routes connect the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, making transport faster and cheaper for oil exporters and European importers. The usual path is from the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, then across the Arabian Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, into the Red Sea, and finally through the Suez Canal or the SUMED pipeline to reach Europe.
This shorter corridor is important because it reduces travel time, fuel cost, and shipping expenses. According to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, if both the Suez Canal and the SUMED pipeline are unavailable, tankers may need to sail around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, which adds about 15 extra days of transit to Europe or the United States.
To strengthen this shortcut, countries can invest in:
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expanding pipeline networks from Gulf producers to Red Sea ports,
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improving port storage and tanker loading facilities,
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keeping the Suez Canal and SUMED pipeline secure and efficient,
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and reducing risks at major chokepoints such as Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
In simple terms, the best short-cut oil supply route from the Middle East to Europe is:
Persian Gulf → Strait of Hormuz → Arabian Sea → Bab el-Mandeb → Red Sea → Suez Canal / SUMED Pipeline → Mediterranean Sea → Europe.
For many exporters, this route is the most practical way to deliver Middle Eastern oil to Europe quickly and efficiently. Europe’s trade patterns have also shifted in recent years toward greater Middle Eastern imports through the Suez/SUMED route.
