Tanker Traffic Drops Sharply Through Crucial Red Sea Strait
- Vessel traffic declines by more than 40% versus 3-week average
- Houthi militants have vowed to continue attacks on ships
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A steep decline in the number of tankers entering a vital Red Sea conduit suggests that attacks on ships in the area are further disrupting a key artery of global trade.
So far this week, only about 30 tankers, including crude oil and fuel carriers, have entered the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which lies at the sea’s southern end, according to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s equivalent to a drop of more than 40% versus the daily average over the previous three-weeks.