48 Out of 57 Ships Avoid Bab al-Mandab and Head Toward the Cape of Good Hope as Houthi Escalation Continues

Ship tracking data showed that 48 out of 57 vessels originally bound to pass through Bab al-Mandab chose to alter their routes toward the Cape of Good Hope, representing approximately 84% of expected shipping traffic through the strategic strait.

This alternative route adds about 10 to 14 days to transit times between Asia and Europe, reducing the effective capacity of the global fleet and driving up shipping costs across international supply chains.

This radical shift in navigation reflects the profound impact of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes, prompting major global shipping companies such as Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC to suspend regular transits through the strait.

Vessel tracking data indicates a sharp decline in daily cargo volumes passing through Bab al-Mandab compared to pre-2024 levels, alongside continuously rising marine insurance premiums that render any transit near the Yemeni coast costly, regardless of security risks.

Shipping markets anticipate further shifts should Houthi operations escalate or extend toward alternative routes, given the absence of any clear prospect for a political settlement to restore safety to this vital maritime corridor.