{"id":72276,"date":"2026-09-26T23:08:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T03:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/saudi-aramco-explores-new-export-routes-amid-global-energy-and-cyber-security-surges\/72276\/"},"modified":"2026-09-26T23:08:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T03:08:12","slug":"saudi-aramco-explores-new-export-routes-amid-global-energy-and-cyber-security-surges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/saudi-aramco-explores-new-export-routes-amid-global-energy-and-cyber-security-surges\/72276\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Aramco Explores New Export Routes Amid Global Energy and Cyber Security Surges"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Saudi Aramco (<a href=\"\/stock\/2222\">2222<\/a>)<\/strong> is conducting engineering and feasibility studies for <strong>two new crude export routes<\/strong> to bypass the high-risk <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, as regional tensions drive Brent crude prices above <strong>$100 per barrel<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cybersecurity activity has surged<\/strong>, with hackers increasingly targeting <strong>AI accounts and model servers<\/strong> to steal computing power and resell access to premium large language models (LLMs).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indonesia<\/strong> is weighing a massive <strong>2,772km Trans-Kalimantan railway project<\/strong> with potential Chinese backing, though officials remain cautious following previous high-cost infrastructure ventures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>UK and Thai authorities<\/strong> have intercepted <strong>6.5 tons of cannabis<\/strong> flown from Thailand to the UK in just two months, marking a dramatic escalation in air-courier smuggling since Thailand&#39;s 2022 decriminalization.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hamas leadership<\/strong> has accused Israel of using Palestinian casualties as political leverage ahead of the <strong>October 27<\/strong> Israeli elections, signaling continued diplomatic deadlock.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Aramco Diversifies Export Strategy Amid Maritime Risks<\/h2>\n<p>Saudi Aramco (<a href=\"\/stock\/2222\">2222<\/a>) CEO <strong>Amin Nasser<\/strong> confirmed the company is developing a <strong>fourth and fifth export route<\/strong> to ensure supply resilience. The move comes as the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong> faces unprecedented structural risks, with current daily transit volumes reportedly falling to <strong>4.9 million barrels<\/strong>, down from a pre-conflict average of <strong>21.6 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Aramco is also looking to expand its <strong>overseas storage capacity<\/strong>, particularly in <strong>Japan<\/strong>, to safeguard supplies for key Asian markets including <strong>China<\/strong> and <strong>South Korea<\/strong>. <em>Analysts suggest these moves indicate that Riyadh now views maritime chokepoint disruptions as a long-term structural reality rather than a temporary contingency.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>AI Infrastructure Becomes Prime Target for Cybercrime<\/h2>\n<p>A new wave of cyberattacks known as <strong>&quot;LLM-jacking&quot;<\/strong> is targeting enterprise AI accounts and exposed model servers. According to reports from the <strong>Financial Times<\/strong> and <strong>CrowdStrike (<a href=\"\/stock\/CRWD\">CRWD<\/a>)<\/strong>, hackers are hijacking cloud credentials to consume expensive AI budgets and run automated hacking tools at the victim&#39;s expense.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CrowdStrike (<a href=\"\/stock\/CRWD\">CRWD<\/a>)<\/strong> reported an <strong>89% increase<\/strong> in AI-driven cyberattacks in 2026, highlighting that AI has become both a weapon for adversaries and a high-value target. <em>The surge in activity has forced businesses to rethink cloud security, as 6% of chatbot conversations are now estimated to contain sensitive corporate data.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Indonesia Eyes China for Trans-Kalimantan Railway<\/h2>\n<p>Indonesia is exploring Chinese involvement for its ambitious <strong>2,772km Trans-Kalimantan railway<\/strong>, aimed at boosting connectivity across Borneo. While <strong>China<\/strong> is a leading candidate for the project, Jakarta is proceeding with caution to avoid the debt complications seen in previous large-scale infrastructure deals.<\/p>\n<p>The project is part of a broader strategy to develop the region following the relocation of Indonesia&#39;s capital. <em>Market observers are closely watching the negotiations, as the scale of the project could significantly impact regional trade dynamics and Chinese influence in Southeast Asian infrastructure.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>UK-Thailand Crackdown on Cannabis Smuggling<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>National Crime Agency (NCA)<\/strong> and <strong>Thai Customs<\/strong> have intensified their partnership following the seizure of <strong>6.5 tons of cannabis<\/strong> destined for the UK via air routes in a two-month window. Arrests of air couriers at UK airports reached <strong>600 in the first half of 2026<\/strong>, on track to surpass the <strong>976 arrests<\/strong> recorded in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>To deter &quot;mules&quot; recruited via social media, Thailand has introduced a new fine of <strong>30,000 Baht (approx. \u00a3680) per kilogram<\/strong> of seized cannabis. <em>The crackdown highlights the unintended consequences of Thailand&#39;s 2022 decriminalization, which has fueled a multi-billion baht illegal export trade controlled by organized crime syndicates.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Saudi Aramco (2222) is conducting engineering and feasibility studies for two new crude export routes to bypass the 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