Houthi prepare ship tolls at Bab al-Mandab, oil risks rise
The proposed scheme could exempt Chinese ships, with potential charges of about US$180 million a month.
The Houthi group in Yemen is discussing a plan to charge commercial ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a week after announcing a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. Reuters reported the move is raising fresh concern about global energy routes because about 10 percent of the world’s oil and 13 percent of LNG pass through those waters. Afrah Al Zouba, foreign minister in Yemen's internationally recognized government, said the Houthi want to control access to the Red Sea and collect fees from ships transiting the area. Several regional sources said the mechanism is still being worked out and no timetable has been set for implementation. Under the plan under discussion, ships owned by China would be exempt from the toll. The charges could reach US$180 million per month, while disruption at Bab al-Mandab could tighten oil supply and push up energy prices.