Houthi Embargo Slams Bab Al Mandeb Traffic, Strait of Hormuz Sees Surge
Maritime traffic in the Bab Al Mandeb strait has plummeted since Houthi rebels declared an embargo on Saudi shipping. According to Kpler data, only 15 commodity vessels transited the waterway on Sunday, a 56% drop from the 34 that crossed on July 20.
The decline in traffic follows attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Aramco facilities in the Saudi cities of Jizan and Yanbu, as well as an attack on the Saudi ship NCC Masa while it was sailing in the Red Sea. The Houthis also claimed attacks on Aramco facilities.
Meanwhile, ship traffic across the Strait of Hormuz almost doubled on Sunday, with 11 ships crossing, including 10 commodity vessels carrying crude oil or chemicals. However, many shipping companies are avoiding both straits as a precaution, citing concerns over safety and supply chain disruptions.
Hapag-Lloyd, a German shipping giant, said the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz play only a limited role in its overall network, with most services routed around the Cape of Good Hope after leaving the Arabian Gulf.