The Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the most important international maritime shipping lanes, witnessed a sharp decline in traffic during last June, reaching its lowest level since the Houthi group began its attacks on commercial ships in the region in November 2023.
According to For Lloyd's List Intelligence, which specializes in maritime data, the number of navigation trips through the strait fell to 927 trips in June, compared to 978 trips in May. This decrease is due to the escalation of Houthi attacks on shipments in the Red Sea, which led to the reluctance of many maritime transport companies to use this vital corridor.
The website explained that the pace of decline in traffic through Bab al-Mandab reached 5% per month during the months Last. In December 2023, the number of ships crossing the Strait decreased by 38% compared to November, while January 2024 witnessed a decrease of 31%.
In addition to the decrease in the number of shipping flights, the number of active ships in the Red Sea also decreased last week. The average daily number of active commercial ships reached 203 ships, compared to 234 ships in the previous week.
This decline is due to the intensity of Houthi attacks on ships, as last week alone witnessed 5 attacks, including an attack on a ship belonging to the navigation company. Mediterranean Navy.
These developments are a source of great concern to the international community, especially with the negative repercussions they may have on the global economy and energy security. The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a major corridor for transporting oil and goods between the Middle East and the rest of the world.
As the Houthi attacks continue, shipping traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait remains at risk of further decline, which may exacerbate the global energy crisis and increase maritime transportation costs.