Fresh security concerns disrupt key global trade routes, raising risks for oil supplies and freight movement.

Red Sea Shipping Slows After Houthi Attacks on Saudi Oil Facilities.

Ship traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait dropped sharply after Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast, highlighting growing risks to global energy supply chains. According to shipping data, only 11 commodity vessels transited the strait on Sunday, the lowest level in months, including seven oil tankers. The disruption follows renewed Houthi efforts to target Saudi exports, intensifying tensions in the region. Meanwhile, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz also remained subdued, with fewer than 10 commodity vessels passing daily over the weekend despite a pause in U.S.-Iran hostilities. Several tankers carrying Saudi, Emirati, Russian, and Qatari energy cargoes continued their voyages under heightened security. The reduced movement has already pushed physical crude prices in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa to two-month highs, raising concerns over shipping costs, energy markets, and the stability of global oil supplies.