893 Saudi’s Yanbu port sees busy days despite Houthi threats

Saudi Arabia's key Red Sea export terminal at Yanbu appeared to witness its busiest day since Houthi threats disrupted regional shipping, while additional vessels continued transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with their tracking systems switched off.While some tankers, including those carrying Russian crude, continue to transit the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with their tracking systems active, the Houthi threat has compelled a number of Saudi crude shipments to take alternative routes. Some vessels are now sailing around Africa, while Saudi Arabia has redirected part of its Asia-bound exports from the Red Sea to Egypt's Sidi Kerir terminal on the Mediterranean coast.Saudi Crude Tankers Going DarkSatellite imagery captured by the European Union's Sentinel-2 mission showed five Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) docked at Yanbu's oil-loading terminals on Saturday, potentially marking the port's busiest day since Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a blockade on Saudi ports two weeks ago.