Tankers make sharp U-turns after Houthi shipping threat
Oil tankers are rerouting away from the Red Sea following a maritime embargo threat issued by the Houthi group against Saudi Arabia. This disruption threatens to increase global oil prices and further complicate trade routes already strained by regional conflicts.
Why it matters
The Red Sea is a critical artery for global trade; sustained Houthi interference could lead to significant supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressure on energy markets.
By Thomas Copeland and Joshua Cheetham BBC Verify Published 22 July 2026 At least seven oil tankers have made U-turns close to Yemen since the Iran-linked Houthi group announced a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia on Monday, ship-tracking data shows.
All of the ships were travelling either to or from Saudi ports and made sharp changes of course after the embargo was announced.
Nearly 15% of global sea trade moves through the Red Sea, which connects the Mediterranean and Gulf of Aden through two choke points - the Suez Canal in Egypt and the Bab al-Mandab Strait between Yemen and the Horn of Africa.
The Red Sea has been a key route for exports of Saudi oil since the US-Israeli war with Iran led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely restricted the flow of oil and gas from the Gulf.
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