By Weilun Soon and Prejula Prem
July 31, 2026 (Bloomberg) – Six Saudi oil tankers are currently avoiding the Bab el-Mandeb strait and taking an unusual route around Africa due to threats from Houthi rebels affecting shipping in the Red Sea.
Two empty large crude carriers, Hazm and Dilam, are heading towards Gibraltar, a key refueling hub in the Mediterranean. The other tankers, Ghinah, Laynah, Salam, and Burqan, are signaling South Africa’s ports in Durban or Algoa Bay, which are common stops for ships on long journeys across the continent.
Saudi Arabia is redirecting some crude oil shipments that would normally go to Asia from its Red Sea export port in Yanbu to Egypt’s Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean coast. The country is also looking into a new pricing method for buyers at this location. This longer route around Africa is likely to add at least two weeks to the tankers' travel time.
The very large crude carriers (VLCCs) belong to Bahri, Saudi Arabia’s national shipping company. They have not yet responded to requests for comment via email.
The threat from Houthi militants, who are backed by Iran, to attack ships visiting Saudi ports in the Red Sea has caused shipowners to rethink their routes through the narrow Bab el-Mandeb strait. While some tankers are still making the crossing, including Chinese and Pakistan-flagged vessels, others are bypassing the strait, likely in search of better shipping options.
On Thursday, two empty VLCCs entered the Red Sea through Bab el-Mandeb after making previous deliveries near Hormuz. The Gabon Prosperity, owned by South Korea’s Sinokor Group, is heading towards the Suez Canal, as is the Rain Cubic, which is also reported to have Chinese ownership.
Data from Kpler shows that around 26 commercial ships crossed Bab el-Mandeb in both directions on Thursday, while only two vessels were visibly moving through Hormuz. These figures may be updated as more information comes in. Despite a recent slowdown, there are indications that tanker movements are picking up again for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf, with some tankers operating with their transponders turned off.
On Friday, a supertanker named Noble, flying the flag of Hong Kong and loaded with Iraqi crude, was openly showing its exit from the Gulf, according to ship-tracking data.
In other shipping news:
Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman
- The VLCCs Angola B, Spain B, Suezmax tanker Imola, and products tanker Al Salam, carrying shipments from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, crossed Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman without broadcasting their positions.
- The LNG tanker Al Areesh turned back as it got close to the Arabian Sea and is currently near Oman, despite indicating Pakistan as its destination.
Southern Red Sea
- Twenty-six commercial vessels crossed Bab el-Mandeb on Thursday, down from 27 the day before, according to Kpler.
- Only Russian crude was exported through the chokepoint, totaling around 770,000 barrels, although some vessels may have passed through without their transponders active.
Northern Red Sea
- Insurers in London have expanded the areas where they can charge war risk premiums further north in the Red Sea, but not extending into Egyptian waters.
- The VLCC Agios Nikolas, controlled by Sinokor, is on its way to Egypt’s Sidi Kerir after earlier indicating it was going to the US.
- Currently, five loaded VLCCs are waiting off Sidi Kerir: Olympic Luck, DHT Gazelle, Bidbid, Front Empire, and VL Prosperity.
- The DHT Mustang departed from Sidi Kerir on Thursday fully loaded, but its destination is not clear.