Shipping activity through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has slowed sharply after Yemen’s Houthi group launched attacks on Saudi oil facilities, according to shipping data.
The number of commercial vessels passing through the strategic Red Sea route fell to its lowest level in months, raising concerns over further disruptions to global oil and trade flows.
Several oil tankers carrying Saudi crude continued to transit the area, including vessels heading toward China and Pakistan. However, operators remain cautious as regional tensions continue to affect shipping decisions.
The disruption comes as attacks linked to the wider Middle East conflict put additional pressure on major energy routes including the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
