The Week in Charts: Container carriers hold Red Sea line despite Houthi blockade | Tanker stocks up double digits during a month of geopolitical chaos
- Containership transits through the Bab el Mandeb remained stable week of 20 July, with CMA CGM, Maersk and Wan Hai among carriers maintaining trans-Suez sailings
- Crude tanker stocks rose 15% over the past month; product tanker stocks gained 13%. In contrast, the SPDR ETF tracking the S&P 500 fell 2%
- Sallaum Lines has signed a contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard for one firm 8,600 ceu pure car and truck carrier, with an option for a second, as part of its fleet renewal strategy
Lloyd’s List’s weekly showing of the data and figures behind our news, analysis and markets coverage
CONTAINER carriers have so far shrugged off the Houthi naval blockade of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports, maintaining transits through the Bab el Mandeb Strait even as the militia tightens its grip on Saudi oil exports — but the industry’s foothold in the region remains fragile and could unravel quickly if the conflict escalates further, reported APAC editor Cichen Shen.
A total of 58 containerships transited the strait during July 20-26 — the highest weekly volume in the past month — according to preliminary data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
The figure suggests that the formal blockade declaration, announced on July 20, has not yet triggered any major rerouting of container traffic.
Tanker stocks up double digits during a month of geopolitical chaos
Hormuz transits have slowed to a trickle amid the threat of Iranian strikes, the Houthis are attacking tankers in the Red Sea, Ukrainians are attacking tankers in the Black Sea and as usual, bad news for the world is good news for tanker stocks, wrote senior maritime reporter Greg Miller.
Geopolitical chaos over the past month has driven up the average price of crude and product tanker shares by double digits.
On Wednesday, the US stock market suffered its worst day since April 2025. The Dow plunged by over 1,100 points, but tanker stocks held steady.
Sallaum Lines boosts newbuild orderbook as global vehicle carrier market heats up
Vehicle carrier operator Sallaum Lines is expanding its newbuilding programme after signing a contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard for a new 8,600 ceu pure car and truck carrier, reinforcing its investment in latest generation dual-fuel tonnage, reported markets editor Rob Willmington.
The Cyprus-based company confirmed it has ordered one firm vessel, with an option for a second, in a deal that further strengthens its orderbook amid sustained demand for vehicle carrier capacity.
The LNG dual-fuel, ammonia-ready, ship is booked for delivery in 2029.
China tightens grip on iron ore shipping as Simandou fleet takes shape
China is tightening its grip on iron ore trade, with almost all exports from Guinea’s flagship Simandou mining project heading to the country and Chinese-linked interests controlling more than half the fleet serving the route, reported Peter Guo.
Since Simandou exports began in December, a fleet of 35 bulk carriers of more than 170,000 dwt has emerged to haul iron ore from the mammoth new Guinean supply source to China via the Atlantic port of Morebaya, according to vessel-tracking data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence and Signal Ocean.
Notably, Chinese and China-linked interests control more than half of the fleet, with 10 vessels beneficially owned by Chinese companies and eight by Singapore-based Winning International Group.
Strait of Hormuz tanker traffic in freefall as navigation crisis deepens
Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz collapsed nearly 80% in the week of 20 July compared with the previous week before the US-Iran ceasefire unravelled, according to preliminary data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence, reported APAC editor Cichen Shen and senior reporter Matthew Rajendra.
The week-on-week deterioration has been relentless. From 88 transits in the week of July 6, traffic fell to 47 the following week, then to just 24 in the week of 20 July, signalling the navigation crisis at this key energy chokepoint is deepening.
During June 29-July 5 — the final week before the US-Iran ceasefire collapsed — nearly 110 transits were recorded.
