A handful of chokepoints shape global oil flow
A few narrow maritime routes handle the bulk of the world's fossil fuel transport, according to a Rystad energy analysis. When conflict arises around these bottlenecks, the global economy suffers.
Volume of crude oil and liquid petroleum transported in the first half of 2025
Turkish Straits
3.7m
Strait of Hormuz
20.9 million barrels per day
Suez Canal
4.9m
Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Strait of Malacca
4.2m
23.2m
The Cape of Good Hope fields ship traffic when other passes are too dangerous.
9.1m
iran
Shiraz
Persian Gulf
Strait of Hormuz
Dubai
saudi arabia
uae
About half of oil exports from Saudi Arabia and the UAE traverse the Strait of Hormuz.
Arabian Sea
Suez Canal
Cairo
saudi arabia
egypt
Red Sea
Jeddah
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait saw significant decline in commercial maritime traffic after a wave of Houthi attacks starting in 2023.
yemen
Aden
Piracy is a big threat in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Middle East to growing markets in Southeast Asia.
Pacific Ocean
malaysia
Singapore
Strait of Malacca
indonesia
Jakarta
Indian Ocean
The Turkish Straits connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea and is a major transit point for oil from Russia and the Caspian Sea region. Traffic has fluctuated since the Russian-Ukrainian conflict began.
Russia
Turkish Straits
Athens
turkey
Mediterranean Sea
Turkish Straits
3.7m
Strait of Hormuz
Suez Canal
20.9 million barrels per day
4.9m
Bab el-Mandeb Strait
4.2m
Strait of Malacca
23.2m
The Cape of Good Hope fields ship traffic when other passes are too dangerous.
Cape of Good Hope
9.1m
Shiraz
iran
Persian Gulf
Strait of Hormuz
Dubai
uae
saudi arabia
About half of oil exports from Saudi Arabia and the UAE traverse the Strait of Hormuz.
Arabian Sea
oman
Mediterranean Sea
Suez Canal
Cairo
egypt
saudi arabia
Red Sea
Jeddah
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait saw significant decline in commercial maritime traffic after a wave of Houthi attacks starting in 2023.
yemen
Aden
Piracy is a big threat in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Middle East to growing markets in Southeast Asia.
Pacific Ocean
malaysia
Singapore
Strait of Malacca
indonesia
Jakarta
Indian Ocean
The Turkish Straits connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea and is a major transit point for oil from Russia and the Caspian Sea region. Traffic has fluctuated since the Russian-Ukrainian conflict began.
Russia
Black Sea
Athens
Turkish Straits
turkey
Mediterranean Sea
Alexandria
Turkish Straits
3.7m
Suez Canal
Strait of Hormuz
4.9m
20.9 million barrels per day
Bab el-Mandeb Strait
4.2m
Strait of Malacca
23.2m
Cape of Good Hope
9.1m
The Cape of Good Hope fields ship traffic when other passes are too dangerous.
Piracy is a big threat in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Middle East to growing markets in Southeast Asia.
Pacific Ocean
Shiraz
iran
malaysia
Persian Gulf
Kuala Lumpur
Strait of Hormuz
Singapore
Strait of Malacca
Dubai
uae
saudi arabia
About half of oil exports from Saudi Arabia and the UAE traverse the Strait of Hormuz.
Jakarta
Indian Ocean
Arabian Sea
indonesia
oman
The Turkish Straits connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea and is a major transit point for oil from Russia and the Caspian Sea region. Traffic has fluctuated since the Russian-Ukrainian conflict began.
Mediterranean Sea
Suez Canal
Russia
Cairo
Black Sea
egypt
saudi arabia
Istanbul
Turkish Straits
Jeddah
Athens
sudan
turkey
greece
Red Sea
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait saw significant decline in commercial maritime traffic after a wave of Houthi attacks starting in 2023.
Mediterranean Sea
yemen
Alexandria
Aden
Egypt
Turkish Straits
3.7m
Suez Canal
Strait of Hormuz
4.9m
20.9 million barrels per day
Bab el-Mandeb Strait
4.2m
Strait of Malacca
23.2m
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope fields ship traffic when other passes are too dangerous.
9.1m
Piracy is a big threat in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Middle East to growing markets in Southeast Asia.
iran
Pacific Ocean
Shiraz
malaysia
About half of oil exports from Saudi Arabia and the UAE traverse the Strait of Hormuz.
Persian Gulf
Kuala Lumpur
Strait of Hormuz
Singapore
Strait of Malacca
Dubai
uae
saudi arabia
Indian Ocean
Jakarta
indonesia
Arabian Sea
oman
Kyiv
ukraine
The Turkish Straits connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea and is a major transit point for oil from Russia and the Caspian Sea region. Traffic has fluctuated since the Russian-Ukrainian conflict began.
Mediterranean Sea
Russia
Suez Canal
Cairo
bulgaria
Black Sea
egypt
Istanbul
saudi arabia
Turkish Straits
Jeddah
Athens
turkey
sudan
Red Sea
greece
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait saw significant decline in commercial maritime traffic after a wave of Houthi attacks starting in 2023.
yemen
Mediterranean Sea
Alexandria
Aden
Egypt