Key facts
- Six Saudi crude oil tankers have rerouted to southern Africa due to Houthi threats.
- At least two tankers have likely transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with their tracking transponders turned off.
- The rerouting adds approximately 25 days to voyages.
- Saudi Arabia is rerouting some exports northward to Egypt and the Suez Canal.
- The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a critical chokepoint for global shipping.
Six Saudi crude oil tankers have rerouted to southern Africa, adding approximately 25 days to their voyages, amid persistent threats from Yemen's Houthi movement. At least two tankers, the Greece-owned Lesvos and the India-flagged Desh Vaibhav, have likely transited the critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait chokepoint with their tracking transponders turned off, according to vessel-tracking data.
Satellite imagery indicated a busy Saturday at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu, with at least five tankers berthed, marking a significant increase since the Houthis announced their intention to disrupt Saudi oil exports. Saudi Arabia has responded by rerouting some exports northward to Egypt and the Suez Canal, while other vessels are increasingly opting for 'dark' transits through the Bab el-Mandeb to the south.
Last week, six tankers reportedly turned away in the Arabian Sea from Bab el-Mandeb following Houthi threats and attacks. These vessels were indicating destinations such as Gibraltar or South African ports, which are major refueling hubs. Separately, over half a dozen empty supertankers were observed heading to Egypt's Sidi Kerir port to load Saudi crude, signaling evolving export strategies to circumvent the Bab el-Mandeb threat.
The EU's naval force, Aspides, had previously advised merchant vessels linked to Israeli, U.S., or Saudi interests to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden due to the elevated threat level. The Houthis claim their actions are retaliation for a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, an allegation Saudi Arabia denies, vowing to protect its ships under international law. Approximately 15% of global sea trade passes through the Red Sea, a vital route for Saudi oil exports.
Shipping traffic at the key Gulf waterways of Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz held largely unchanged at the start of the week. Twenty vessels passed through the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Monday, steady from the previous day, with most of their transponders on. Traffic remained largely slow at Hormuz, with six vessels transiting the strait on Monday, down from seven on the previous day. Progress in U.S.-Iran talks remained uncertain, with Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman stating no negotiations were taking place and no meetings were scheduled.