LONDON: China has held direct discussions with Yemen’s Houthi movement to secure safe passage for its oil tankers through the southern Red Sea after the Iran-backed group announced it would block access to Saudi ports, according to six sources familiar with the matter.
The Houthis declared the blockade on July 20, opening a new front against the United States and its allies amid the Iran conflict and expanding attacks on vessels transporting oil and other goods beyond the Middle East.
According to the sources, including a senior Iranian official, Beijing has directly asked the Houthis to guarantee that Chinese tankers will not be targeted while transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
China was among the first countries to engage directly with the Houthis over the safety of commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
Beijing is seeking to maintain the flow of Saudi crude exports from Red Sea ports, particularly Yanbu, to offset supply disruptions caused by Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Shipping data from Kpler, LSEG and MarineTraffic shows that at least four tankers carrying Saudi crude to China have passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait since the Houthis announced the blockade.
One source said Chinese authorities have coordinated approval for each vessel individually with the Houthis, while two regional officials said both parties have kept Iran informed of these arrangements.
The Houthis have also warned international shipping companies via email that vessels loading or unloading cargo at Saudi ports could be attacked.
Two Chinese trading sources said some tankers attempting to enter the Red Sea through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have altered their routes due to security concerns.
Tankers reverse course
According to analysis by Lloyd’s List Intelligence and MarineTraffic, the oil supertankers New Champion and New Prime both turned back into the Gulf of Aden instead of continuing through the Red Sea.
The New Champion had been scheduled to load crude at Yanbu, while the New Prime was already carrying oil, according to Kpler data and other industry tracking information.
Last week, the Houthis claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on the Saudi oil tankers Encelia and Layla. Maritime security officials confirmed that Encelia had been struck.
The disruption has significant implications for global shipping. A voyage from Yanbu to Asia through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait typically takes around 16 days. If ships are forced to avoid the route by travelling via the Suez Canal and around Africa, the journey can extend to approximately 50 days.
Shipping activity through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait increased to 28 vessels on Monday, the highest level in four days, according to Kpler data. However, traffic remained below the monthly peak of 46 vessels recorded on July 14.
Of the 12 vessels that entered the Red Sea on Monday, four were oil tankers, reflecting continued but reduced commercial activity through the strategic maritime corridor.
