The number of container ships at the mouth of the Red Sea on their way to or from the Suez Canal was 90 per cent down in the first week of January compared with the start of 2023, according to research showing the disruption to world trade by attacks on ships by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The research, by the London-based shipping services company Clarksons, also showed that the number of container ships diverting from the Red Sea to travel round the Cape of Good Hope on January 9 was more than double the total as recently as December 21.
On the evening of Tuesday, the day the figures were compiled, Houthi rebels launched one of their biggest combined attacks on shipping so far. US Central Command said, with US and UK warships and aircraft shooting down 18 drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and one ballistic missile.