Commercial shipping traffic in the Bab al-Mandab Strait has reportedly fallen by 56% after the Houthis said they would close the waterway to Saudi vessels. The figure was reported by the Emirati newspaper The National, which cited data from shipping analytics company Kpler.
The reported drop points to a sharp reduction in vessel movements after the embargo announcement. Based on the available details, the decline affects commercial traffic through the strait rather than an isolated shipping incident.
The Kpler data referenced in the report suggests that shipping patterns shifted quickly following the Houthi move. A fall of this size indicates that operators may be changing transit plans as the situation develops.
While the trimmed report does not include wider trade figures or longer-term forecasts, the 56% decline highlights a significant slowdown in activity in the Bab al-Mandab. Further reporting will likely focus on whether traffic remains at reduced levels or begins to recover.
