At least two oil tankers have turned away from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after Yemen-based Houthis reported attacks on two Saudi vessels.
The Houthis said they targeted the Encelia and Layla for violating a naval blockade declared earlier this week.
According to reports, one tanker carried Saudi crude for India, while the other transported oil toward China.
Matthew Wright, principal freight analyst at Kpler, said the diversions showed that shipping operators were taking the threat seriously.
He warned that broader disruptions could affect global energy markets beyond the diverted cargoes.
Meanwhile, Saudi state news agency SPA confirmed that one tanker came under attack and caught fire.
Red Sea Traffic Falls as War Disrupts Energy Routes
Reuters reported that two Chinese supertankers carrying Saudi crude were approaching the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The vessels reportedly had Chinese crews aboard.
However, shipping traffic through the chokepoint has already declined. Twenty-seven vessels crossed the Red Sea route on Wednesday, compared with 38 tanker crossings the previous day.
The crossings included five crude oil tankers and one liquefied natural gas carrier.
Meanwhile, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains far below pre-war levels. Some 253 energy carriers remain stuck in the Persian Gulf.
These include 102 crude oil tankers, 64 LNG carriers and 66 LPG vessels.
Moreover, continued US strikes on Iranian targets and the Houthi blockade threat have pushed oil prices higher.
Brent crude surpassed $96 per barrel, while traders remain concerned about further disruptions to global energy supplies.
