Chokepoints › Strait of Gibraltar
Strait of Gibraltar shipping traffic
Mediterranean · Daily ship transits from IMF PortWatch, latest day Nov 8, 2026.
Traffic is close to its 90-day average (7-day average 136 ships a day vs 130).
Daily transits, last 30 days
Bright bars: tankers. Faded bars: all other ships.
Why the Strait of Gibraltar matters
The Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco is the gateway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Every ship using the Suez route to reach northern Europe or the Americas passes it, as do Mediterranean energy and container flows. Big transshipment hubs at Algeciras and Tanger Med sit on either side. Changes in traffic here mostly follow what happens at Suez and in the Red Sea, so it helps confirm whether Asia-Europe trade is moving back to the short route.
Markets to watch
- Mediterranean container trade: Asia-Europe services via Suez pass Gibraltar.
- European fuel imports: Product tankers into and out of the Mediterranean use the strait.
Related
Other chokepoints: Suez Canal, Dover Strait, Cape of Good Hope.
Country risk: United Kingdom, France.
FAQ
How many ships pass through the Strait of Gibraltar each day?
In the 7 days to Nov 8, 2026, an average of 136 ships a day passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, including 42.3 tankers, against 130 a day over the previous 90 days. Counts come from IMF PortWatch satellite AIS data.
Why is the Strait of Gibraltar important?
It is the only natural sea entrance to the Mediterranean from the Atlantic, so ships on the Suez route to northern Europe or the Americas pass through it.
What affects traffic through Gibraltar?
Mostly the state of the Suez-Red Sea route. When ships divert around Africa, some Asia-Europe traffic no longer enters the Mediterranean at all.