Attacks on shipping in the Red Sea divert traffic around Africa

Day 1,086 since 2023-11-19 (19 November 2023). Transits, all vessel types at Bab el-Mandeb Strait averaged 27.2 transits per day over the 28 days to 2026-11-08, against 77.5 expected before the event (-65%).

Key facts

Day
1,086 (as of 2026-11-08 (8 November 2026))
Started
2023-11-19 (19 November 2023)
Severity
5 Critical
Chokepoints
Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Suez Canal, Cape of Good Hope
Ports
None
Lanes
Asia to North Europe, Asia to Mediterranean
  • Severity basis: A disruption documented by official sources across more than one region at once; governments and carriers have recorded attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and the rerouting of services around the Cape of Good Hope since 2023.

Transits, all vessel types, Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Expected before the event
77.5 transits per day
Last 7 days
26.3
Last 28 days
27.2 (-65%)
Average since the start
34.4
Transits, all vessel types, Bab el-Mandeb StraitTransits, all vessel types, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, 2023-09-10 (10 September 2023) to 2026-11-08 (8 November 2026): values ranged from 13 transits per day on 2025-12-09 to 97 transits per day on 2023-09-14, with a mean of 37.0 transits per day. The latest value, for 2026-11-08, was 24 transits per day. The shaded band marks the event so far, 2023-11-19 to 2026-11-08.0204060801002023-09-102025-04-102026-11-08
Transits, all vessel types, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, 2023-09-10 (10 September 2023) to 2026-11-08 (8 November 2026): values ranged from 13 transits per day on 2025-12-09 to 97 transits per day on 2023-09-14, with a mean of 37.0 transits per day. The latest value, for 2026-11-08, was 24 transits per day. The shaded band marks the event so far, 2023-11-19 to 2026-11-08.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Transits, all vessel types, Bab el-Mandeb Strait (transits per day). Weekly means, week starting Monday.
Datetransits per day
2023-09-0469.0
2023-09-1176.4
2023-09-1876.9
2023-09-2574.6
2023-10-0277.4
2023-10-0979.0
2023-10-1682.6
2023-10-2374.4
2023-10-3079.6
2023-11-0674.3
2023-11-1376.4
2023-11-2080.9
2023-11-2774.9
2023-12-0474.6
2023-12-1173.6
2023-12-1856.1
2023-12-2552.9
2024-01-0145.1
2024-01-0843.9
2024-01-1537.1
2024-01-2233.9
2024-01-2932.6
2024-02-0534.9
2024-02-1235.4
2024-02-1936.1
2024-02-2635.1
2024-03-0431.7
2024-03-1133.0
2024-03-1830.9
2024-03-2534.0
2024-04-0129.7
2024-04-0833.4
2024-04-1532.7
2024-04-2233.9
2024-04-2932.4
2024-05-0632.1
2024-05-1331.9
2024-05-2032.3
2024-05-2730.4
2024-06-0333.3
2024-06-1033.1
2024-06-1731.9
2024-06-2428.0
2024-07-0129.1
2024-07-0831.9
2024-07-1529.1
2024-07-2226.3
2024-07-2930.3
2024-08-0530.4
2024-08-1231.0
2024-08-1929.9
2024-08-2632.3
2024-09-0231.6
2024-09-0929.9
2024-09-1631.3
2024-09-2330.6
2024-09-3030.9
2024-10-0733.1
2024-10-1430.1
2024-10-2129.9
2024-10-2834.0
2024-11-0434.6
2024-11-1133.7
2024-11-1831.3
2024-11-2532.7
2024-12-0229.4
2024-12-0938.0
2024-12-1627.9
2024-12-2331.7
2024-12-3032.6
2025-01-0633.1
2025-01-1332.3
2025-01-2032.1
2025-01-2733.1
2025-02-0331.0
2025-02-1031.6
2025-02-1732.4
2025-02-2431.9
2025-03-0332.3
2025-03-1033.4
2025-03-1734.1
2025-03-2431.1
2025-03-3134.4
2025-04-0733.9
2025-04-1430.0
2025-04-2134.1
2025-04-2831.9
2025-05-0532.1
2025-05-1234.0
2025-05-1934.6
2025-05-2633.9
2025-06-0235.3
2025-06-0935.6
2025-06-1626.1
2025-06-2328.9
2025-06-3032.0
2025-07-0735.0
2025-07-1427.6
2025-07-2132.6
2025-07-2831.6
2025-08-0435.4
2025-08-1135.3
2025-08-1830.9
2025-08-2537.7
2025-09-0134.1
2025-09-0835.6
2025-09-1534.3
2025-09-2233.3
2025-09-2933.7
2025-10-0634.0
2025-10-1337.6
2025-10-2037.4
2025-10-2735.0
2025-11-0340.1
2025-11-1033.9
2025-11-1740.7
2025-11-2437.4
2025-12-0136.9
2025-12-0825.3
2025-12-1532.4
2025-12-2234.6
2025-12-2933.3
2026-01-0533.9
2026-01-1233.1
2026-01-1934.1
2026-01-2635.0
2026-02-0234.0
2026-02-0935.3
2026-02-1640.4
2026-02-2336.6
2026-03-0235.3
2026-03-0930.3
2026-03-1640.0
2026-03-2335.7
2026-03-3038.1
2026-04-0636.1
2026-04-1335.7
2026-04-2039.6
2026-04-2734.7
2026-05-0434.0
2026-05-1135.3
2026-05-1841.1
2026-05-2534.3
2026-06-0137.6
2026-06-0836.3
2026-06-1537.1
2026-06-2235.4
2026-06-2934.4
2026-07-0632.7
2026-07-1340.6
2026-07-2028.3
2026-07-2730.7
2026-08-0325.4
2026-08-1029.4
2026-08-1729.4
2026-08-2426.3
2026-08-3125.4
2026-09-0727.3
2026-09-1424.7
2026-09-2127.1
2026-09-2829.6
2026-10-0528.3
2026-10-1226.4
2026-10-1928.9
2026-10-2627.3
2026-11-0226.3

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Transits, all vessel types, Suez Canal

Expected before the event
75.8 transits per day
Last 7 days
44.4
Last 28 days
43.3 (-43%)
Average since the start
41.0
Transits, all vessel types, Suez CanalTransits, all vessel types, Suez Canal, 2023-09-10 (10 September 2023) to 2026-11-08 (8 November 2026): values ranged from 10 transits per day on 2024-12-12 to 95 transits per day on 2023-11-17, with a mean of 43.1 transits per day. The latest value, for 2026-11-08, was 43 transits per day. The shaded band marks the event so far, 2023-11-19 to 2026-11-08.0204060801002023-09-102025-04-102026-11-08
Transits, all vessel types, Suez Canal, 2023-09-10 (10 September 2023) to 2026-11-08 (8 November 2026): values ranged from 10 transits per day on 2024-12-12 to 95 transits per day on 2023-11-17, with a mean of 43.1 transits per day. The latest value, for 2026-11-08, was 43 transits per day. The shaded band marks the event so far, 2023-11-19 to 2026-11-08.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Transits, all vessel types, Suez Canal (transits per day). Weekly means, week starting Monday.
Datetransits per day
2023-09-0478.0
2023-09-1175.3
2023-09-1871.6
2023-09-2577.1
2023-10-0274.9
2023-10-0979.0
2023-10-1674.4
2023-10-2377.6
2023-10-3076.0
2023-11-0675.1
2023-11-1379.3
2023-11-2075.9
2023-11-2775.0
2023-12-0473.7
2023-12-1178.3
2023-12-1870.9
2023-12-2560.3
2024-01-0154.0
2024-01-0849.6
2024-01-1550.7
2024-01-2242.7
2024-01-2939.0
2024-02-0542.6
2024-02-1239.9
2024-02-1944.6
2024-02-2641.0
2024-03-0440.9
2024-03-1138.4
2024-03-1838.7
2024-03-2538.4
2024-04-0141.9
2024-04-0839.0
2024-04-1544.0
2024-04-2239.4
2024-04-2936.4
2024-05-0642.7
2024-05-1341.3
2024-05-2044.0
2024-05-2739.7
2024-06-0339.7
2024-06-1039.9
2024-06-1737.3
2024-06-2437.1
2024-07-0137.9
2024-07-0837.1
2024-07-1537.6
2024-07-2239.3
2024-07-2940.4
2024-08-0538.4
2024-08-1242.0
2024-08-1941.7
2024-08-2639.6
2024-09-0235.7
2024-09-0934.3
2024-09-1641.0
2024-09-2339.3
2024-09-3036.7
2024-10-0737.7
2024-10-1436.9
2024-10-2138.0
2024-10-2838.1
2024-11-0436.7
2024-11-1135.6
2024-11-1837.9
2024-11-2533.1
2024-12-0235.6
2024-12-0934.1
2024-12-1640.4
2024-12-2334.7
2024-12-3033.3
2025-01-0638.1
2025-01-1336.7
2025-01-2036.7
2025-01-2736.6
2025-02-0331.0
2025-02-1037.9
2025-02-1733.6
2025-02-2435.1
2025-03-0337.6
2025-03-1038.3
2025-03-1736.6
2025-03-2438.1
2025-03-3136.7
2025-04-0739.3
2025-04-1435.6
2025-04-2136.4
2025-04-2836.4
2025-05-0534.4
2025-05-1239.1
2025-05-1938.3
2025-05-2636.6
2025-06-0234.3
2025-06-0940.1
2025-06-1636.9
2025-06-2335.3
2025-06-3037.4
2025-07-0738.3
2025-07-1436.9
2025-07-2140.1
2025-07-2838.1
2025-08-0438.0
2025-08-1137.3
2025-08-1841.9
2025-08-2536.7
2025-09-0142.6
2025-09-0845.0
2025-09-1539.0
2025-09-2242.7
2025-09-2941.1
2025-10-0639.0
2025-10-1343.7
2025-10-2042.7
2025-10-2739.0
2025-11-0344.1
2025-11-1045.0
2025-11-1740.0
2025-11-2443.3
2025-12-0140.6
2025-12-0841.6
2025-12-1541.3
2025-12-2238.4
2025-12-2935.1
2026-01-0538.0
2026-01-1239.9
2026-01-1938.4
2026-01-2642.7
2026-02-0240.4
2026-02-0942.7
2026-02-1640.3
2026-02-2341.6
2026-03-0242.7
2026-03-0940.1
2026-03-1639.7
2026-03-2342.4
2026-03-3044.9
2026-04-0640.9
2026-04-1338.4
2026-04-2044.1
2026-04-2737.3
2026-05-0439.7
2026-05-1139.1
2026-05-1841.0
2026-05-2539.7
2026-06-0141.3
2026-06-0839.9
2026-06-1537.9
2026-06-2242.6
2026-06-2942.1
2026-07-0641.3
2026-07-1341.6
2026-07-2040.9
2026-07-2741.6
2026-08-0341.0
2026-08-1040.9
2026-08-1742.0
2026-08-2443.0
2026-08-3141.6
2026-09-0737.9
2026-09-1441.9
2026-09-2140.0
2026-09-2843.1
2026-10-0541.7
2026-10-1244.3
2026-10-1941.3
2026-10-2643.0
2026-11-0244.4

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Transits, all vessel types, Cape of Good Hope

Expected before the event
50.8 transits per day
Last 7 days
77.9
Last 28 days
85.7 (+69%)
Average since the start
87.3
Transits, all vessel types, Cape of Good HopeTransits, all vessel types, Cape of Good Hope, 2023-09-10 (10 September 2023) to 2026-11-08 (8 November 2026): values ranged from 3 transits per day on 2023-09-16 to 205 transits per day on 2024-07-12, with a mean of 85.2 transits per day. The latest value, for 2026-11-08, was 77 transits per day. The shaded band marks the event so far, 2023-11-19 to 2026-11-08.0501001502002502023-09-102025-04-102026-11-08
Transits, all vessel types, Cape of Good Hope, 2023-09-10 (10 September 2023) to 2026-11-08 (8 November 2026): values ranged from 3 transits per day on 2023-09-16 to 205 transits per day on 2024-07-12, with a mean of 85.2 transits per day. The latest value, for 2026-11-08, was 77 transits per day. The shaded band marks the event so far, 2023-11-19 to 2026-11-08.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Transits, all vessel types, Cape of Good Hope (transits per day). Weekly means, week starting Monday.
Datetransits per day
2023-09-0432.0
2023-09-1142.0
2023-09-1875.4
2023-09-2555.3
2023-10-0250.7
2023-10-0950.9
2023-10-1652.9
2023-10-2347.1
2023-10-3048.6
2023-11-0646.4
2023-11-1351.4
2023-11-2051.4
2023-11-2745.4
2023-12-0445.4
2023-12-1153.3
2023-12-1849.6
2023-12-2559.7
2024-01-0172.4
2024-01-0872.6
2024-01-1570.1
2024-01-2273.0
2024-01-2980.1
2024-02-0578.9
2024-02-1291.3
2024-02-1987.4
2024-02-2693.3
2024-03-0491.6
2024-03-1182.7
2024-03-1879.3
2024-03-2582.9
2024-04-0177.7
2024-04-0884.0
2024-04-15103.1
2024-04-2289.0
2024-04-2988.6
2024-05-0689.9
2024-05-1393.7
2024-05-2091.0
2024-05-2785.4
2024-06-03101.3
2024-06-1097.4
2024-06-1797.1
2024-06-2492.3
2024-07-0182.0
2024-07-08102.3
2024-07-1595.9
2024-07-2279.9
2024-07-29108.9
2024-08-0579.7
2024-08-12101.6
2024-08-19102.9
2024-08-2682.6
2024-09-0289.7
2024-09-0988.9
2024-09-1687.9
2024-09-2384.7
2024-09-3095.4
2024-10-0784.4
2024-10-1483.0
2024-10-2185.4
2024-10-2890.7
2024-11-0479.4
2024-11-1188.6
2024-11-1888.4
2024-11-2574.0
2024-12-0284.1
2024-12-0976.0
2024-12-1683.1
2024-12-2381.9
2024-12-3081.0
2025-01-0681.0
2025-01-1380.7
2025-01-2092.6
2025-01-2781.4
2025-02-0384.0
2025-02-1092.0
2025-02-1791.0
2025-02-2487.7
2025-03-0386.9
2025-03-1076.0
2025-03-1777.1
2025-03-2481.6
2025-03-3179.9
2025-04-0784.1
2025-04-1483.4
2025-04-2188.3
2025-04-2878.7
2025-05-0590.4
2025-05-12109.3
2025-05-1979.0
2025-05-2685.9
2025-06-02100.3
2025-06-0991.3
2025-06-1688.9
2025-06-2381.9
2025-06-30104.6
2025-07-0799.0
2025-07-1499.3
2025-07-2194.0
2025-07-2895.1
2025-08-0486.9
2025-08-11107.4
2025-08-1890.3
2025-08-25105.7
2025-09-0192.0
2025-09-0896.1
2025-09-1596.1
2025-09-2290.9
2025-09-29101.1
2025-10-06100.7
2025-10-1387.1
2025-10-2094.3
2025-10-2787.6
2025-11-0385.0
2025-11-1081.4
2025-11-1790.3
2025-11-2492.1
2025-12-0184.9
2025-12-0886.7
2025-12-1578.9
2025-12-2284.7
2025-12-2986.7
2026-01-0586.7
2026-01-1289.6
2026-01-1986.0
2026-01-2690.3
2026-02-0278.6
2026-02-0986.0
2026-02-1695.9
2026-02-2388.3
2026-03-0292.7
2026-03-0992.4
2026-03-1692.0
2026-03-2390.1
2026-03-3090.7
2026-04-0693.1
2026-04-1395.4
2026-04-2098.3
2026-04-2790.9
2026-05-0488.6
2026-05-11103.0
2026-05-1897.7
2026-05-2594.9
2026-06-0191.6
2026-06-0891.1
2026-06-1595.6
2026-06-2292.1
2026-06-2996.1
2026-07-0690.4
2026-07-1393.0
2026-07-2090.3
2026-07-2788.6
2026-08-0387.3
2026-08-1091.9
2026-08-1791.6
2026-08-2491.9
2026-08-3178.6
2026-09-0790.6
2026-09-1488.6
2026-09-2188.1
2026-09-2887.7
2026-10-0584.0
2026-10-1285.7
2026-10-1987.1
2026-10-2692.0
2026-11-0277.9

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Transits, container ships, Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Expected before the event
19.6 transits per day
Last 7 days
5.6
Last 28 days
5.7 (-71%)
Average since the start
6.1
Transits, container ships, Bab el-Mandeb StraitTransits, container ships, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, 2023-09-10 (10 September 2023) to 2026-11-08 (8 November 2026): values ranged from 0 transits per day on 2024-01-26 to 33 transits per day on 2023-10-06, with a mean of 7.0 transits per day. The latest value, for 2026-11-08, was 8 transits per day. The shaded band marks the event so far, 2023-11-19 to 2026-11-08.0102030402023-09-102025-04-102026-11-08
Transits, container ships, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, 2023-09-10 (10 September 2023) to 2026-11-08 (8 November 2026): values ranged from 0 transits per day on 2024-01-26 to 33 transits per day on 2023-10-06, with a mean of 7.0 transits per day. The latest value, for 2026-11-08, was 8 transits per day. The shaded band marks the event so far, 2023-11-19 to 2026-11-08.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Transits, container ships, Bab el-Mandeb Strait (transits per day). Weekly means, week starting Monday.
Datetransits per day
2023-09-0417.0
2023-09-1119.7
2023-09-1821.7
2023-09-2520.4
2023-10-0220.6
2023-10-0920.3
2023-10-1619.7
2023-10-2319.0
2023-10-3020.0
2023-11-0616.9
2023-11-1321.3
2023-11-2018.3
2023-11-2716.1
2023-12-0414.6
2023-12-1114.1
2023-12-183.9
2023-12-254.1
2024-01-014.7
2024-01-084.0
2024-01-153.7
2024-01-223.0
2024-01-294.6
2024-02-054.1
2024-02-125.7
2024-02-193.9
2024-02-264.4
2024-03-045.1
2024-03-114.6
2024-03-183.4
2024-03-255.1
2024-04-015.3
2024-04-084.1
2024-04-155.3
2024-04-224.7
2024-04-295.3
2024-05-064.6
2024-05-134.9
2024-05-204.7
2024-05-275.3
2024-06-034.9
2024-06-106.7
2024-06-174.7
2024-06-245.0
2024-07-015.0
2024-07-085.4
2024-07-156.3
2024-07-224.3
2024-07-295.7
2024-08-055.1
2024-08-125.9
2024-08-196.6
2024-08-265.9
2024-09-026.1
2024-09-096.0
2024-09-166.0
2024-09-234.4
2024-09-305.4
2024-10-076.9
2024-10-146.4
2024-10-215.9
2024-10-287.0
2024-11-046.3
2024-11-116.9
2024-11-186.7
2024-11-258.0
2024-12-025.9
2024-12-097.6
2024-12-165.7
2024-12-235.9
2024-12-306.7
2025-01-066.9
2025-01-137.7
2025-01-208.0
2025-01-278.1
2025-02-036.3
2025-02-106.9
2025-02-178.4
2025-02-246.3
2025-03-037.3
2025-03-107.4
2025-03-177.1
2025-03-246.9
2025-03-317.3
2025-04-076.3
2025-04-146.9
2025-04-217.3
2025-04-286.3
2025-05-055.7
2025-05-127.6
2025-05-196.7
2025-05-266.9
2025-06-027.9
2025-06-096.6
2025-06-165.4
2025-06-236.4
2025-06-305.7
2025-07-077.7
2025-07-145.0
2025-07-217.7
2025-07-287.1
2025-08-046.3
2025-08-118.3
2025-08-186.1
2025-08-256.3
2025-09-015.7
2025-09-086.4
2025-09-157.1
2025-09-225.9
2025-09-297.6
2025-10-065.4
2025-10-136.6
2025-10-206.6
2025-10-276.7
2025-11-036.6
2025-11-106.4
2025-11-176.3
2025-11-246.1
2025-12-018.0
2025-12-083.3
2025-12-155.7
2025-12-227.0
2025-12-296.0
2026-01-055.4
2026-01-125.7
2026-01-197.0
2026-01-265.4
2026-02-026.1
2026-02-095.0
2026-02-166.6
2026-02-236.1
2026-03-025.3
2026-03-094.6
2026-03-165.4
2026-03-236.0
2026-03-304.7
2026-04-065.6
2026-04-136.0
2026-04-206.6
2026-04-276.3
2026-05-045.6
2026-05-115.4
2026-05-186.1
2026-05-256.3
2026-06-016.0
2026-06-086.1
2026-06-155.6
2026-06-224.4
2026-06-296.0
2026-07-064.9
2026-07-134.9
2026-07-205.4
2026-07-275.1
2026-08-034.0
2026-08-104.9
2026-08-175.1
2026-08-244.1
2026-08-315.0
2026-09-075.9
2026-09-145.0
2026-09-214.9
2026-09-285.3
2026-10-056.3
2026-10-124.7
2026-10-197.3
2026-10-265.1
2026-11-025.6

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Recent developments

  1. Reporting from the region describes Houthi control of the Yemeni Red Sea coast and says operators are still routing around the Cape rather than through the strait.
  2. After a pause in attacks from about November 2025, officials of the group are reported as saying they will resume attacks on merchant ships, and Maersk again moves selected services to the Cape route.
  3. After an attack on one of its ships, Maersk pauses all transits through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden until further notice and diverts them around the Cape.
  4. Maersk says the paused ships will instead sail around Africa by way of the Cape of Good Hope.

Full record with sources, cause and measured effect. All ongoing disruptions.

Embed this day counter on your site

Copy the code below. It updates when this site does, and carries its own source line and a link back. Preview the embed.

<iframe src="https://worldfreightmonitor.com/embed/situation/attacks-on-shipping-red-sea-2023/" title="Attacks on shipping in the Red Sea divert traffic around Africa on World Freight Monitor" width="100%" height="480" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>