Ship traffic in Bab Al Mandeb strait halves as Houthis seize control of key island

Ship traffic in the Bab Al Mandeb strait has halved amid Houthi rebels' takeover of Yemen's Red Sea coast and the strategic Perim Island. Data from Kpler reveals only 15 ship crossings on Friday, down from 30 a day earlier. Of the 15 vessels, six exited the Red Sea and nine entered. The ships were carrying crude, grains, steel, and ballast.

The Houthi takeover followed the seizure of the port city of Mokha, enhancing their ability to monitor Red Sea movements. Perim Island, at the heart of the strait, is vital for tracking vessels entering and leaving the Red Sea and heading to the Suez Canal. Arsenio Longo of tanker movement analytics specialists Huax stated that Perim, Dhubab, and Bab Al Mandeb are crucial for shipping.

The Houthis imposed a maritime embargo on Saudi-linked vessels, leading to Saudi crude being diverted to the Suez Canal for export to Asia. This pressure impacts Saudi shipping, as the strait has been used for over 20 million barrels of oil per day before the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz, another key oil route, remains closed due to US-Iran tensions, with oil prices surging to nearly $110 per barrel. Current oil estimates are around 10 million barrels per day.