Experts warn that escalating threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea could halt transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, forcing vessels to take the longer route around Africa. Such a shift would delay oil deliveries to Asia by approximately one month and lead to a surge in freight and insurance costs. Although Saudi Arabia has previously utilized the Port of Yanbu to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, the current tensions have significantly reduced oil shipments through Bab el-Mandeb. These security challenges have pushed global oil prices above $100 per barrel, with diesel prices in the United States soaring by over 50%. Efforts to source oil from alternative regions are expected to drive prices even higher, resulting in severe economic consequences for the general public.
