Economy & Trade
Bab al-Mandab traffic hits Saudi exports, data shows
Saudi exports through the Bab al-Mandab Strait are continuing to suffer after recent Houthi gains on Yemen's Red Sea coast, with weekly traffic since the start of August at under a third of this year's seven-day average, maritime tracking firm Kpler data shows.
Kpler said five laden vessels carrying Saudi products left the Red Sea through the strait in the past seven days. The figure has not been higher since the week of July 24, when 11 such vessels exited through the route.
Crude exports leaving the Red Sea through Bab al-Mandab were also below usual levels. Kpler data showed about 3.4 million barrels per day exported since September 11, compared with an average of about 4.4 million barrels per day since January 1.
Commodity tanker traffic through the waterway has fallen but has not stopped. Kpler recorded about 24 ships passing through the strait in both directions per day over the past week, compared with an average of 31 crossings per day since January.
The Houthis now control the narrow strait, a key route for Saudi oil exports and for shipping between Asia and Europe through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The route has become more important during the wider Middle East war as the Strait of Hormuz shipping route has been choked off.
The Houthis say there is no threat to navigation in Bab al-Mandab except for Saudi vessels. Qatar previously warned that closing the waterway would be “catastrophic” for the world and called for diplomacy and dialogue.
Update
Kpler data shows weekly Saudi-product vessel traffic through Bab al-Mandab has been under a third of this year's seven-day average since the start of August.
Five laden vessels carrying Saudi products left the Red Sea through the strait in the past seven days.
Crude exports leaving the Red Sea through the strait were about 3.4 million barrels per day since September 11, compared with an average of about 4.4 million barrels per day since January 1.
Kpler recorded about 24 commodity tanker crossings per day in both directions over the past week, compared with an average of 31 since January.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 September 2026 at 15:57:01 UTC.
Update
Qatar warned that closing the Bab al-Mandab waterway would have catastrophic consequences for the world.
Qatar foreign ministry official Ibrahim Al Hashmi said the world could not afford a Bab al-Mandab closure while the Strait of Hormuz was already closed.
Al Hashmi said Qatar was pushing for diplomacy and dialogue.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 September 2026 at 10:38:57 UTC.
Update
Yemen's Houthis have seized the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The Houthis now hold all of Yemen's Red Sea coast, strategic islands in and around the strait, and significant northern territory including Sanaa.
The group launched a major assault on September 3 focused on capturing Bab al-Mandab and had seized the Red Sea coast about a week later.
The seizure boosts the Houthis' ability to exert control over navigation and target Saudi tankers, according to the item.
The item adds background on the Houthis' Zaidi roots, leadership, rise since the 1990s and links with Iran-aligned groups.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 September 2026 at 01:12:31 UTC.
Update
Saudi civil defence said brief danger alerts were issued on Thursday for Abha and Khamis Mushait near the Yemen border.
Saudi civil defence said the alerts were lifted very shortly afterward.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 20:10:06 UTC.
Update
A Houthi military spokesman said Saudi Arabia launched 64 strikes on Yemen in 24 hours.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 16:17:52 UTC.
Update
The reported strikes came after the Houthis seized the key Red Sea city of Mocha.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 15:47:11 UTC.
Update
Houthi media said Saudi Arabia launched 10 strikes on Yemen's Taiz province.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 15:35:24 UTC.
Update
The Saudi-led coalition said on Wednesday that the Houthis fired ballistic missiles and drones at several cities in southern Saudi Arabia.
Saudi civil defence issued alerts warning of potential danger in Khamis Mushait and Abha.
The Houthis are seeking to advance toward Red Sea coastal areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
An AFP tally compiled from several sources says fighting in Yemen since last week has left more than 500 dead, mostly combatants.
Yemen relapsed into war in July after years of calm, according to the supplied account.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 08:12:24 UTC.
Update
Houthi-run Saba said the reported strikes took place in recent hours on Thursday.
Saba named Taiz, Hodeida, Al-Jawf and Marib as governorates where it said strikes occurred.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 07:05:36 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied figures show reduced traffic but do not establish whether the fall will continue.
The Houthis' claim that navigation is threatened only for Saudi vessels has not been independently established in the supplied material.
Source
AFP news report published on .