Can the Suez save Asian oil consumers after Houthis shut Bab al-Mandeb?
About 6 million barrels of crude per day that pass through the strait to Asia are now at risk, experts say.
Asian oil markets are facing a fresh supply-chain question after the Bab al-Mandeb strait was shut by the Houthis, raising concerns over the route that normally carries large volumes of crude toward Asia.
According to a monitored public feed from Al Jazeera Latest, experts say about 6 million barrels of crude per day that move through the strait to Asia are now at risk. The development has prompted discussion over whether the Suez route can help ease pressure on oil consumers in Asia if the disruption continues.
The Bab al-Mandeb is a key chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and any interruption can ripple through tanker traffic and pricing expectations. With the passage now blocked, the immediate concern is how exporters, shippers and refiners will adapt if vessels are forced to reroute or wait.
The feed summary does not provide additional details on the duration of the shutdown, the specific impact on individual buyers, or any official response from governments or shipping firms. Still, the scale cited by experts underscores why the closure is being closely watched by energy markets that depend on steady seaborne deliveries.
For Asian consumers, the central question is whether alternative routes, including the Suez corridor, can meaningfully offset the loss of access through Bab al-Mandeb. Any shift in shipping patterns could affect journey times, freight costs and overall supply availability, even if barrels are ultimately redirected.
This report is based on a monitored public feed and is attributed to Al Jazeera Latest.
Source: Al Jazeera Latest - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/22/can-the-suez-save-asian-oil-consumers-after-houthis-shut-bab-al-mandeb?traffic_source=rss
