Europe’s supply chains strained

Cargo shipments are being disrupted by continued attacks by Houthi militants on vessels in the Red Sea, with many businesses in Europe reporting lengthening delivery times for supplies to reach their factories

SHIPPING ROUTES
As of Jan 2024*
Attacks forcing most shipping lines to divert to longer route around Africa, increasing fuel costs, insurance fees and crew wages

Rotterdam
19 days
Suez Canal
Red Sea
Bab-el- Mandeb
YEMEN
Arabian Sea
48 days
Cape of Good Hope

TRANSIT VOLUMES IN BAB EL-MANDEB STRAIT Tonnes, 7-day average

6,000,000 4,000,000 2,000,000 0
  
Sep 2023 Oct Nov Dec Jan 2024

Oct 7, 2023: Hamas launches surprise attack on Israel
Oct 19: Houthis begin targeting cargo ships, saying they are responding to Israel’s war in Gaza
Dec 18: Attacks against vessels intensify
Jan 11, 2024: U.S. and UK launch wave of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen

Jan 28: 1,828,000
Dec 14: 5,096,000
    
*Voyage time calculated for laden Suezmax tankers travelling at 14 knots (25km/hr) without delays from bottlenecks

Sources: FT, PortWatch, EIA Pictures: Getty Images, Google Earth © GRAPHIC NEWS