Yemen's Houthi group is reportedly considering imposing fees on commercial ships navigating the southern Red Sea, a move that follows their declaration of a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. Regional sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the group is evaluating charges for traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. No specific timeframe for implementation has been announced.
Sources indicated that Houthi officials met with Iranian counterparts in July to discuss the potential fees. The aim of such a policy would be to normalize charging for passage through international waterways and to increase pressure on the United States. Notably, Chinese vessels are expected to be exempt from these potential fees, a stance supported by the Houthis. China, the world's largest buyer of Saudi Arabian oil, has reportedly engaged in direct talks with the Houthis to ensure the safe passage of its tankers through the southern Red Sea.
An Arab official in the region stated that Iranian advisers accompanied Houthi officials returning from Tehran, guiding them on establishing a regulatory authority for fees at the Bab el-Mandeb. Afrah al-Zouba, designated foreign minister for Yemen's internationally recognized government, commented that the Houthis intend to charge ships transiting the Red Sea.
Such a measure is expected to face significant opposition from Gulf and European nations. However, international naval forces are currently strained, limiting their capacity to provide comprehensive protection for merchant shipping, and there appears to be limited political will to alter this situation, according to two Western diplomats.
The closure or disruption of the Bab el-Mandeb strait would pose a threat to Saudi Arabia's supply routes, removing a critical alternative to the Strait of Hormuz and intensifying concerns about potential oil supply shortages. Red Sea shipping has not fully recovered since Houthi attacks commenced in November 2023, which the group stated were in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war. These attacks on merchant vessels ceased with the Gaza ceasefire in October.
In the past week, at least one Saudi tanker was reportedly attacked off the southern Saudi port of Jizan, an incident for which the Houthis claimed responsibility. A 2024 United Nations Panel of Experts report alleged that the Houthis had previously collected fees from some shipping agencies for safe passage through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden during the peak of their maritime campaign in 2024, though the report noted it could not independently verify this information. The estimated monthly fees at that time were reported to be as high as $180 million, though these figures also remained unverified.
Sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait to Asia typically takes about 16 days. Rerouting cargoes around southern Africa via the northern Red Sea and Suez Canal would extend this journey to approximately 50 days.