Saudi Oil Tankers Take Detour Around Africa Due to Houthi Threats

Recently, six Saudi oil tankers have taken an unusual detour around Africa due to Houthi threats in the Red Sea. The Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) are owned by Bahri, the national shipping company of Saudi Arabia.

According to ship-tracking data, two empty VLCCs, Hazm and Dilam, are signaling Gibraltar as their destination, while the other four tankers, Ghinah, Laynah, Salam, and Burqan, are indicating ports in South Africa. This diversion is expected to add at least two weeks to the journey.

The Houthi rebels have been disrupting shipping in the Red Sea, prompting Saudi Arabia to divert some Asia-bound crude flows from its Red Sea export port of Yanbu to Egypt's Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean coast.