Houthis Declare Maritime Embargo Against Saudi Arabia Amid Red Sea Volatility

The Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical waterway measuring 32km (20 miles) wide, sits between southwestern Yemen and the Horn of Africa. This vital passage connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, which provides access to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.

Following the outbreak of conflict in Gaza in October 2023, Houthi forces initiated attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden using drones, missiles, and small boats, citing solidarity with Palestinians as their motivation.

These hostilities have resulted in the sinking of four ships and the deaths of nine crew members. Consequently, commercial maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandab has dropped to historic lows as shipping firms opt to reroute vessels around the southern tip of Africa.

IMF data indicates that despite a brief pause in attacks during last October’s Gaza ceasefire discussions, transit volumes through the strait have not yet recovered to pre-conflict levels.

To mitigate risks associated with maritime instability, Saudi Arabia has redirected over 70% of its crude oil exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

According to data from Kpler and Signal Ocean, recent shipments from Yanbu have reached approximately 4 million barrels per day (bpd), a significant increase from the roughly 973,000 bpd recorded a year ago.

Global petroleum transit through the Bab al-Mandab reached 7.4 million bpd in June, representing approximately 7% of total global output.

Mohammed Albasha, an analyst at the US-based risk advisory firm Basha Report, noted that it remains uncertain if Houthi forces will transition to targeting vessels specifically bound for Saudi Arabia.

“Regardless of whether physical attacks occur, the mere announcement of an embargo is poised to disrupt shipping patterns and instill uncertainty for Saudi Arabian ports. The pivotal question is whether Houthi threats will escalate into direct military action,” Albasha stated in a report to Reuters.

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