Shipping through Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab remains stable despite uncertainty
Singapore, Aug. 4 (SANA) Commercial shipping traffic through theStrait of Hormuzand theBab al-MandabStrait remained stable this week despite continued uncertainty surrounding negotiations between the United States and Iran, according to Reuters.Reuters reported Tuesday, citing vessel-tracking data fromKpler, that 20 vessels transited the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Monday, including 12 oil tankers and eight bulk carriers, largely unchanged from the previous day.Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz also remained limited but stable. Six vessels—comprising three oil tankers and three bulk carriers—passed through the strategic waterway on Monday, compared with seven vessels a day earlier.The data indicate that commercial shipping has continued to move through the two key maritime chokepoints despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty in the region.Shipping activity in theRed Seaoff Yemen has been disrupted since last week following attacks claimed by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, raising concerns over security along two of the world’s most important maritime routes for global energy supplies and international trade.The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait serve as critical corridors linking Gulf energy producers with international markets. Any disruption to traffic through either passage can affect oil shipments, freight costs and global supply chains.kA.RK