Global shipping routes through the critical Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz have seen a dramatic drop in traffic, according to recent data. This decline follows renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi oil installations and persistent security concerns linked to the broader US-Iran conflict.
Red Sea Traffic Hits Months-Long Low
On Sunday, only eleven commodity vessels transited the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea, marking the lowest level in months. This disruption comes despite a recent pause in direct strikes between the United States and Iran. Of the vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb, seven were oil tankers. Three of these entered the Red Sea, including two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) destined for Yanbu to load Saudi crude and one Russian-linked ship. Four vessels exited the Red Sea, including the Hong Kong-flagged VLCC New Explorer, carrying two million barrels of Saudi and Emirati crude for China's Ningbo port, another tanker with one million barrels of Russian crude for China, and a third carrying approximately 750,000 barrels of Saudi crude for Pakistan.
Strait of Hormuz Also Experiences Decline
The Strait of Hormuz, another vital chokepoint for global oil supply, also experienced significantly reduced traffic over the weekend. Fewer than ten commodity vessels passed through the strait daily. On Sunday, seven vessels transited, including three Iranian-linked oil product tankers exiting the strait. Saturday saw an even lower count, with only three vessels passing, all with their transponders switched off. These included a VLCC heading to Qatar, an LPG tanker bound for Ruwais in the UAE, and a tanker carrying Qatari naphtha destined for Japan. Friday recorded seven transits, mostly vessels exiting the Gulf with crude from Iraq and the UAE, and fuel oil.
Houthi Attacks and US-Iran Pause
The latest disruptions are largely attributed to renewed attacks by Yemeni Houthis, who are aligned with Tehran, on Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree confirmed strikes on Saudi state oil company Aramco sites in Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday. These attacks aim to blockade Saudi exports and have widened the US-Iran conflict, which has already impacted oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz.
The subdued shipping activity occurred despite a two-day pause in hostilities between the United States and Iran. A senior Iranian official stated on Sunday that Tehran would halt its own attacks if the US reciprocated, a message reportedly conveyed to Washington. The Pentagon suspended its thirteen-night air strike campaign against Iran late on Friday, with no US attacks reported over the weekend. Iran, which had been conducting retaliatory strikes, also held fire for two days. This pause reportedly followed concerns raised by President Donald Trump's advisors about depleting US arsenals and running out of viable targets.