Saudi Tankers Take Long Route Around Africa Amid Houthi Threats

At least six empty Saudi oil tankers have rerouted around Africa to avoid potential threats from the Houthi group in the Red Sea chokepoint Bab el-Mandeb. This unusual move follows recent attacks on Saudi shipping and actual threats made by the Iran-aligned Houthis, prompting Saudi Arabia to re-route its crude oil exports again.

The tankers are now heading south around Africa towards destinations such as Gibraltar or major refueling hubs in South Africa, adding at least two weeks to their journey compared to a trip through Bab el-Mandeb northward toward the Suez Canal. This is not an isolated incident, as more than half a dozen empty supertankers were en route to Egypt's Sidi Kerir port early this week to pick up Saudi crude.

The Houthi threat has already forced at least one oil tanker carrying Saudi crude to Asia to take the much longer route through the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, and around Africa. Saudi Arabia is re-routing its export tactics to avoid the new threat for the Middle East's chokepoints, with at least eight empty very large crude carriers (VLCCs) signaling the port of Sidi Kerir as their destination.

This development has significant implications for global oil markets, as the Houthi threats to shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb have already forced a change in export routes. The Saudi government's decision to re-route its crude oil exports is likely a response to the growing threat posed by the Houthis, which could lead to increased tensions in the region.