Chokepoints › Strait of Malacca
Strait of Malacca shipping traffic
Southeast Asia · Daily ship transits from IMF PortWatch, latest day Nov 8, 2026.
Traffic is close to its 90-day average (7-day average 235.9 ships a day vs 217.4).
Daily transits, last 30 days
Bright bars: tankers. Faded bars: all other ships.
Why the Strait of Malacca matters
The Strait of Malacca runs between Malaysia, Singapore and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and is the main shipping lane from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. By volume it is the largest oil transit route in the world, carrying Middle East and African crude to China, Japan and South Korea, along with a large share of Asia's container and bulk trade. The Lombok and Sunda straits are the alternatives, at the cost of extra sailing days. Traffic here reflects Asian demand for energy and raw materials, and it is the route China's energy security planners worry about most.
Markets to watch
- Crude demand in Asia: Most Gulf crude bound for East Asia sails through Malacca.
- Singapore bunker fuel and refining margins: Singapore is the hub at the strait's southern end.
- Dry bulk and container rates: A large share of Asia's bulk and container trade uses the strait.
Related
Other chokepoints: Lombok Strait, Taiwan Strait, Strait of Hormuz.
Country risk: China, Japan, South Korea, India.
FAQ
How many ships pass through the Strait of Malacca each day?
In the 7 days to Nov 8, 2026, an average of 235.9 ships a day passed through the Strait of Malacca, including 83.6 tankers, against 217.4 a day over the previous 90 days. Counts come from IMF PortWatch satellite AIS data.
What is the alternative to the Strait of Malacca?
Ships can use the Sunda Strait or the deeper Lombok Strait in Indonesia. Both add sailing days, and Lombok is preferred by the largest tankers and bulk carriers.
Why is the Strait of Malacca important for China?
Most of China's imported crude from the Middle East and Africa passes through it, so any disruption there directly affects Chinese energy supply.