Asian Oil Supplies Under Threat as Houthi Attacks Disrupt Shipping

Asia's oil supplies are under threat as Yemen's Houthi movement targets Saudi shipping in the Bab El Mandab Strait, forcing governments across the region to scramble for alternative routes and contingency plans.

The disruption comes just months after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, severely disrupting oil flows and driving up energy costs. Asian countries that rely heavily on Middle Eastern crude are now seeking new supply routes as uncertainty grows over regional shipping.

Energy analysts warn that global spare oil supplies remain limited, leaving governments with little room to absorb another prolonged supply shock. 'There is very little inventory left,' Ahmed Helal, an analyst at the Asia Group think tank, told The Guardian.

Saudi Arabia had shifted some of its crude exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu after the Strait of Hormuz disruptions earlier this year, but that alternative route is now under pressure following Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers and energy infrastructure. Shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the Bab El Mandab Strait, with vessel traffic falling sharply in recent days as operators respond to mounting security risks.