As oil soars, experts watch Red Sea tankers for clarity on Houthi blockade
Oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel following a Houthi-imposed naval blockade in the Red Sea targeting Saudi, Israeli, and US-linked tankers. Experts are monitoring which vessels are permitted to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb strait to gauge the impact on global crude market trends.
Why it matters
The blockade threatens a critical global shipping artery, potentially causing significant disruptions to energy supplies and further inflating global oil prices.
Houthi blockade for now is shaping who moves Saudi crude, not whether it moves, analysts say, even as oil prices soar.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Boats float near the coast of Bab el-Mandeb, Yemen, April 2 [File: Reuters] By Megha Bahree Published On 24 Jul 2026 24 Jul 2026 As oil prices hit $100 a barrel on Thursday, experts say they are watching to see which vessels Yemen’s Houthis allow to pass through in the Red Sea as that will indicate how the crude market trends.
Brent futures rose $6.58 or 6.96 percent, to $100.65 a barrel, exceeding $100 for the first time since late May.
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