Red Sea traffic declines amid rising security concerns
Ship traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell sharply on Sunday after Yemen’s Houthis attacked Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast.
According to Kpler shipping data, only 11 commodity vessels crossed the strategic waterway, marking the lowest level in several months.
The Tehran-aligned Houthis have disrupted shipping near Yemen since last week. The group has threatened Saudi oil exports, adding pressure to global energy supplies already affected by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Seven vessels crossing Bab el-Mandeb were oil tankers, including two very large crude carriers heading to Yanbu to load Saudi oil.
Meanwhile, four vessels exited the Red Sea, including tankers carrying Saudi, Emirati and Russian crude toward Asian markets.
Strait of Hormuz traffic remains low
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz also remained at low levels over the weekend despite a pause in US-Iran military strikes.
Kpler data showed fewer than 10 commodity vessels crossed the waterway each day.
Seven vessels transited the strait on Sunday, including three Iranian-linked oil product tankers. Only three vessels passed through on Saturday, while seven crossed on Friday.
The disruptions have already pushed physical crude prices in the Middle East, Europe and Africa to two-month highs.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group attacked facilities belonging to Saudi state oil company Aramco in Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday.
The continued disruption of both waterways has raised concerns about global energy supplies and international trade.
