rafidainscope - Energy affairs researcher Ziyad al-Hashimi warned of serious repercussions that could result from any disruption of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, noting that its most prominent impact would affect the route of Saudi oil exports heading to
Asian markets. Al-Hashimi said in a post that most trade between Asia, Europe and the Americas, along with oil and gas shipments, has been taking longer routes via the Cape of Good Hope for more than two years, with the possibility
of rerouting part of transport traffic to other maritime routes across the African continent. He added that the danger of closing Bab el-Mandeb lies in the possibility of disrupting a Saudi oil export route estimated at five million barrels per day
towards Asia, which could leave a direct impact on global markets. He explained that halting these exports could lead to a shock in oil markets and push prices to higher levels, especially in the spot market, warning that a simultaneous halt
of oil exports through the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb could cause a major disruption in global oil supplies, particularly those heading to Asian markets.
