Commercial traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell to its lowest level in months on Sunday, with only eleven commodity vessels recorded passing through the critical chokepoint.
The sharp decline in transit activity follows renewed attacks by Yemeni Houthi militants on Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast, intensifying fears of further disruption to global energy supply chains.
This latest drop in Red Sea traffic follows a steep 36% decline in Saudi crude oil shipments through the Bab el-Mandeb over the previous two weeks, according to earlier reports.
Transit through the nearby Strait of Hormuz remained subdued over the weekend, compounding concerns about broader Middle Eastern shipping stability.
The simultaneous weakness in both key waterways highlights the fragility of current trade routes and the ongoing risk premium embedded in energy and freight markets.
This latest drop in Red Sea traffic follows a steep 36% decline in Saudi crude oil shipments through the Bab el-Mandeb over the previous two weeks, according to earlier reports.
Saudi Arabia has responded to the escalating threats by launching military strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, aiming to secure the corridor for its vital export flows.