On Tuesday morning, Houthi rebels fired “projectiles” at two commercial vessels, striking one, highlighting the ongoing risks of sailing through the Red Sea.
Japanese shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd. issued a warning today that shipping disruptions might extend for up to a year, indicating that expectations for short-term disruptions are quickly fading.
“It’s a historic event,” President Takeshi Hashimoto said in an interview, quoted by Bloomberg.
Hashimoto said, “The situation will continue at least for the coming two or three months. And as a worst-case scenario, six months or one year.”
He pointed out that there’s enough shipping capacity to weather current supply chain disruptions. Still, he warned that if the global economy suddenly expanded, it could spark a shortage of shipping capacity.
Mitsui OSK Lines has about 800 vessels in its fleet. It said last month that all transits through the Red Sea were halted due to Houthi drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels.
Two weeks ago, MUFG Bank warned clients that “higher friction geopolitics” jeopardizes maritime chokepoints.