Bad Weather Shuts Ras Tanura Port

Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura port, a major oil operations centre for Saudi Aramco, was shut on Monday because of bad weather, two shipping industry sources told Reuters.

"The port is closed completely - today at 11.30 a.m. (local time) there is fast wind, poor visibility and no movement," said one of the sources, who declined to be identified under briefing rules.

Another source said loading had stopped. There was no immediate comment from Saudi Aramco.

Ras Tanura is in the east of Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter.

Saudi Arabia's Border Guard in the Eastern Province told state news agency SPA that it had suspended shipping in the areas as a precautionary measure because of a sandstorm.