Red Sea Shipping Slows Sharply Following Houthi Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities

SINGAPORE: Commercial shipping through the Red Sea has slowed significantly following recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure, raising fresh concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

According to shipping data from analytics firm Kpler, only 11 commodity vessels transited the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Sunday, marking the lowest daily traffic recorded in several months. Of those vessels, seven were oil tankers, reflecting increased caution among shipping operators amid heightened regional tensions.

The decline in traffic comes after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched attacks on Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast and declared a naval blockade, prompting shipping companies to reassess transit through the area. The latest escalation has added to concerns over the safety of global energy supply routes.

Despite the disruption, some vessels continued their voyages. Three oil tankers entered the Red Sea, including two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) bound for Saudi Arabia, while four tankers exited the waterway. Among them were two Hong Kong-flagged supertankers transporting a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi crude oil to China.

Shipping activity also remained subdued in the Strait of Hormuz, where fewer than 10 commodity vessels transited daily over the weekend despite a temporary pause in hostilities between the United States and Iran. Industry observers noted that some vessels continued operating with their tracking transponders switched off, underscoring persistent security concerns in the region.

Analysts warn that prolonged disruptions to maritime traffic through both the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz could increase transportation costs, disrupt global energy supplies, and add further volatility to international oil markets.