Escalating Red Sea attacks force shipping diversions and push oil above $100, straining importers

On 14 September 2026, renewed Houthi strikes and territorial gains near Bab el-Mandeb prompted shipping diversions and raised a risk premium on tanker transit, pushing Brent above $100/bbl and prompting pipeline and routing contingency measures that increase freight and insurance costs for import-dependent African importers such as Egypt (EGY).

If Houthi activity persists, shippers may reroute around the Cape of Good Hope or rely more on constrained Suez/SUMED and Yanbu loadings, lengthening voyages and raising freight and insurance premia. That raises landed fuel and food costs for import-dependent African sovereigns (notably Egypt) and can strain external balances, especially where fuel is a large import share.

Whether Bab el-Mandeb transits resume normal patterns or Saudi/coalition operations and diplomatic talks reduce Houthi disruption within weeks.