The volume of light end petroleum products, including gasoline components, naphtha, and NGLs, originating from the Red Sea and transiting through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, experienced a substantial decline of over 33% by July 28. This drop occurred after transit volumes hit a record high of 1.6 million barrels per day on July 6, according to Vortexa data spanning from 2016 to 2026. The decrease signals an expansion of supply constraints beyond the Middle East Gulf region and into the Red Sea.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this trend in light end product movements through a critical chokepoint like Bab-el-Mandeb could indicate shifts in regional energy supply chains. While directly impacting tanker operations, broader supply constraints in the Red Sea could indirectly influence vessel scheduling and bunker availability in the long term, potentially leading to minor routing adjustments or increased lead times for certain cargo types if the situation escalates.
