As we reported earlier, attacks on vessels by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have disrupted international shipping through the Red Sea.
The US and the UK retaliated to the Houthis by carrying out strikes in Yemen at the end of last week.
The route accounts for about 15% of the world’s shipping traffic, but with attacks appearing to continue, some companies have opted to reroute their vessels.
Here’s how some of them have responded:
BP
The oil major temporarily paused all transits through the Red Sea on 18 December.
Danone
The French food group said in December that most of its
shipments had been diverted, increasing transit times.
Ikea
On 19 December, the Swedish furniture retailer said the situation would result in delays and may cause availability constraints for certain products.
Lidl
Lidl unit Tailwind Shipping Lines, which transports non-food goods for the discount supermarket chain and goods for third-party customers, said it was sailing around Africa for now.
Michelin
Four factories in Spain owned by the French tyre maker are
planning to halt output on 20 and 21 January due to delays in the delivery of raw materials.
QatarEnergy
The world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas has stopped sending tankers via the Red Sea, although production continues, a senior source with direct knowledge of the matter said yesterday.
Sainsbury’s
Britain’s second-largest supermarket said on 10 January that it was in regular contact with the UK government about the Red Sea disruptions.
Shell
The British oil major suspended all shipments through the Red Sea indefinitely, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier today.
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