Chokepoints › Bab el-Mandeb
Bab el-Mandeb shipping traffic
Red Sea · Daily ship transits from IMF PortWatch, latest day Nov 8, 2026.
Traffic is close to its 90-day average (7-day average 26.3 ships a day vs 27.5).
Daily transits, last 30 days
Bright bars: tankers. Faded bars: all other ships.
Why the Bab el-Mandeb matters
Bab el-Mandeb is the narrow strait between Yemen and Djibouti that joins the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Together with the Suez Canal it is the short sea route between Asia and Europe. Since late 2023, Houthi attacks on merchant ships have pushed many container lines and tankers to sail around the Cape of Good Hope instead, adding one to two weeks to Asia-Europe voyages. Traffic here is the clearest live gauge of whether that diversion is ending, which is why container freight indices, European import costs and Suez Canal revenue all track it.
Markets to watch
- Container freight rates (Asia-Europe): Diverting around Africa absorbs ship capacity and lifts spot rates.
- Brent crude and product cracks: Gulf and Russian cargoes bound for Europe use this route.
- Container line stocks: Longer routes change both costs and freight income.
- Egypt's finances: Suez Canal fees fall when ships avoid the Red Sea.
Related
Other chokepoints: Suez Canal, Cape of Good Hope, Strait of Hormuz.
Country risk: Yemen, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran.
FAQ
How many ships pass through the Bab el-Mandeb each day?
In the 7 days to Nov 8, 2026, an average of 26.3 ships a day passed through the Bab el-Mandeb, including 6.9 tankers, against 27.5 a day over the previous 90 days. Counts come from IMF PortWatch satellite AIS data.
Why do ships avoid the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb?
Attacks on merchant ships by Yemen's Houthi movement since late 2023 raised war-risk insurance costs and safety risks, so many operators route around the Cape of Good Hope instead.
How does Bab el-Mandeb affect freight rates?
The detour around Africa adds one to two weeks to Asia-Europe voyages and ties up more ships, which pushes container spot rates up. A sustained rise in transits here usually comes before rates ease.