mniraq - Energy researcher Ziyad al-Hashemi warned on Friday (September 11, 2026) of dangerous repercussions that could result from the disruption of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, noting that its most prominent impact would affect the route of Saudi oil exports heading to Asian markets.
In a post on his Facebook page, al-Hashemi said that most trade movements between Asia, Europe and the Americas, along with oil and gas shipments, have been taking longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope for more than two years, with the possibility of redirecting part of transport traffic to other maritime routes across the African continent.
He added that the danger of closing Bab el-Mandeb lies in the possibility of disrupting a Saudi oil export route estimated at about 5 million barrels per day toward Asia, which could have a direct impact on global markets.
He explained that halting these exports could shock oil markets and push prices to higher levels, especially in the spot market, warning that a simultaneous halt of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb could cause a major disruption in global oil supplies, particularly those heading to Asian markets.
