Bab el-Mandeb Narrows: Asia's Oil Artery Faces a New Wave of Concern

mesoiraq - Energy affairs researcher Ziyad al-Hashimi warned on Friday of dangerous repercussions that could result from the disruption of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, noting that its most prominent impact will affect the path of Saudi oil exports heading to Asian markets.

Al-Hashimi said that most trade movement between Asia, Europe and the Americas, along with oil and gas shipments, has been taking longer routes via the Cape of Good Hope for more than two years, with the possibility of redirecting part of transport traffic to other maritime routes across the African continent.

He added that the danger of closing Bab el-Mandeb lies in the possibility of disrupting a Saudi oil export route estimated at about 5 million barrels per day toward Asia, which could have a direct impact on global markets.

He explained that the halt of these exports could lead to a shock in oil markets and push prices to higher levels, especially in the spot market, warning that the simultaneous suspension of oil exports through both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb could cause a major disruption in global oil supplies, particularly those heading to Asian markets.