Saudi oil giant Aramco has reported a 25 per cent surge in its first-quarter profits compared to last year. The world's largest oil company achieved this by increasing exports via a pipeline that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz , a crucial shipping lane disrupted by the ongoing conflict involving Iran . The state-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co. posted a profit of $32.5 billion for the quarter ending 31 March, a significant turnaround after reporting a 12 per cent decline in its annual profits for 2025. Amin H. Nasser, Aramco's President and CEO, said: "Aramco’s first-quarter performance reflects strong resilience and operational flexibility in a complex geopolitical environment." Aramco has moved its pipeline to avoid the Strait of Hormuz disruption (Reuters) He confirmed the company's East-West Pipeline, running across Saudi Arabia from its eastern oil fields to the Red Sea , is now at its maximum capacity of 7 million barrels of oil per day, "helping to mitigate the impact of a global energy shock and providing…