The volume of grain transport through the Suez Canal fell by 40% in two weeks. This is stated in the message of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
.in_text_content_22 { width: 300px; height: 600px; } @media(min-width: 600px) { .in_text_content_22 { width: 580px; height: 400px; } }
Changing the routes of movement of an increasing number of ships due to the situation in the Red Sea after attacks by the Yemeni Houthis has led to a drop in wheat supplies through the Suez Canal over the past two weeks by almost 40% in annual terms – to 0.5 million tons.
In December 2023, about 8% of wheat supplies from the European Union, Russia and Ukraine to Asia and East Africa were delivered via other routes. In the first half of January, the share of traffic on alternative routes rose to 42%.
According to the WTO, about 76 million tons of grains, oilseeds and their products are shipped annually from the EU, Russia and Ukraine to Asia and East Africa, representing 17% of global trade in these goods.
Meanwhile, the Houthis plan to close all three waterways in the Middle East. The Hezbollah TG channel writes about this with reference to Yemeni sources.
Yemen’s Houthis are considering implementing a plan called the Al-Aqsa Triangle, which involves closing three main waterways in the Middle East: Bab al-Mandab, the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal.
This will lead to the cessation of oil and gas supplies to Israel from Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the source notes.
The German Foreign Ministry called for speeding up the military operation against the Yemeni Houthis
German Foreign Minister Annalena Bärbock said that EU countries must carry out a large-scale military operation in the Red Sea as quickly as possible to ensure commercial shipping.
Almost every day, the Houthis from Yemen randomly attack completely uninvolved [у війні на Близькому Сході] ships. This is damaging one of the central arteries of free navigation and therefore global trade, Burbock said.
Over the past ten days, the US army has been striking Yemen’s Houthi positions, but they have not been able to stop attacks on merchant ships. In this regard, as the Washington Post writes, citing its sources, the administration of US President Joe Biden is developing plans for a long-term military campaign against the Shiite movement.
According to the American publication, the US army in Yemen will try to blow up the military potential of the Houthis so much that they will not be able to attack the ship in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.