Red Sea traffic struggling to gain traction
- Lloyd’s List Intelligence data shows December recorded the highest boxship transits through the Bab el Mandeb since January 2024, while bulk carrier traffic declined
- Saudi‑owned tankers have increasingly been switching off AIS signals during Bab el Mandeb transits over the past two weeks
- Experts say the risk-reward balance still favours rerouting via the Cape, especially while freight rates and demand make longer voyages economically attractive
Red Sea traffic stalled in December as security uncertainty, shifting market forces and attractive Cape‑route economics kept most operators from returning despite a lull in Houthi attacks. A handful of carriers have begun cautiously testing the waters, but volatile regional politics and elevated costs continue to slow any meaningful rebound
