Saudi Tanker Traffic Disappears from View Amid Houthi Embargo

Saudi Red Sea tanker traffic has drastically decreased since July 23 due to a Houthi maritime embargo. The disruption is causing operators to resort to dark port calls and untracked transits through Bab el Mandeb, making it difficult to track the flow of crude oil.

At least 11 tankers have gone dark off Yanbu, while eight vessels have reversed course to avoid the Red Sea chokepoint. This disruption threatens a crucial Saudi export outlet, potentially forcing longer and costlier diversion routes that could tighten tanker capacity and alter global crude trade flows.

The Houthi embargo is already reshaping shipping patterns, with key implications for Asian buyers who rely on these oil exports. As a result, the usual tracking signals have been switched off or abandoned, making it challenging to monitor the situation.