dijlahpoint - Energy researcher Ziad Al-Hashemi warned on Friday (September 11, 2026) of serious repercussions that could result from a disruption of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, noting that the most significant impact would affect the route of Saudi oil exports heading to Asian markets.

Al-Hashemi said in a post on his Facebook page that most trade between Asia, Europe and the Americas, along with oil and gas shipments, has been taking longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope for more than two years, with the possibility of diverting part of shipping traffic to other maritime routes across the African continent.

He added that the danger of closing Bab el-Mandeb lies in the potential disruption of a Saudi oil export route estimated at around 5 million barrels per day towards Asia, which could have a direct impact on global markets.

He explained that halting these exports could shock oil markets and push prices to higher levels, particularly in the spot market, warning that a simultaneous halt of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb could cause a major disruption in global oil supplies, especially those heading to Asian markets.