Chinese Supertankers Navigate Houthi-Blocked Red Sea Amid Global Oil Trade Concerns

The recent Houthi attack on Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast has had a significant impact on ship traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. On Sunday, shipping data from Kpler showed that transit through the strait fell after the attack.

A Chinese supertanker called Cosnew Lake successfully exited the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on July 23, 2026, despite the increased tensions in the region.

The Cosnew Lake is one of several Chinese-flagged VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) tankers that have navigated through the strait recently. The passage of these large vessels is crucial for global oil trade, as it allows them to transport crude oil from the Middle East to refineries in Asia.