5 World Oil and Gas Routes Facing Insecurity

Global energy trade is increasingly at risk as instability spreads across some of the world’s most important oil and gas shipping routes. From piracy and regional conflicts to environmental threats, these vital maritime paths are feeling the strain. 

According to Rystad Energy, disruptions across these chokepoints are now affecting billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of gas each year, raising fears about global energy security.

In 2023, these routes carried more than 71 million barrels of oil per day and 26 billion cubic feet of LNG, but by 2024, the figures had fallen sharply due to conflict and rerouting. 

Analysts warn that any major blockage could send oil prices soaring and disrupt supply chains worldwide. Here are the key routes currently facing insecurity.

Strait of Malacca – Asia’s Energy Lifeline

The Strait of Malacca, located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, is the busiest trade chokepoint in the world. 

It handles about 24 million barrels of oil and gas daily, linking Middle Eastern producers with energy-hungry nations like China, Japan, and South Korea.

China alone imports around half of all crude that passes through the strait, while Saudi Arabia accounts for a quarter of exports. 

Despite its economic importance, the route remains vulnerable to piracy, congestion, and accidents. Although no major incidents have been reported recently, the narrow passage continues to be a hotspot for security concerns and environmental risks.

Strait of Hormuz – The World’s Most Critical Chokepoint

The Strait of Hormuz, lying between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, is the world’s most strategic oil passage. Roughly one-fifth of all global oil exports and a fifth of LNG shipments move through this narrow waterway every day.

It carries nearly 14 million barrels of oil daily, most of which comes from Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Any disruption here would hit Asia the hardest, especially China and India, who rely heavily on the strait for their energy needs.

Recent tensions between Iran and Israel, along with political threats to close the strait, have highlighted how fragile this route remains. While regional pipelines such as Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline and Iran’s Goreh-Jask route help ease dependence, the Strait of Hormuz still remains the heartbeat of global energy trade.

Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb – Red Sea Under Fire

The Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait form the backbone of trade between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Together, they connect the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and handle more than 12 percent of the world’s seaborne oil trade.

However, Houthi rebel attacks on commercial vessels near Yemen have caused shipping volumes to fall by almost 50 percent since late 2023. These attacks forced many ships to avoid the Red Sea entirely, taking longer routes around Africa.

If the Bab el-Mandeb Strait were ever fully closed, it would choke off traffic through the Suez Canal and severely disrupt global oil supplies. With higher insurance costs and rerouted voyages, the Red Sea has become one of the most unstable regions for energy transport.

Turkish Straits – Europe’s Narrow Gateway

The Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits, known together as the Turkish Straits, are vital routes linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. They carry around 3.5 million barrels of oil per day, mainly from Russia and the Caspian region to European markets.

Although trade through this corridor recovered slightly after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it remains vulnerable to political tensions, maritime accidents, and congestion. The waterways are narrow and crowded, making navigation risky. 

To limit dependence, some nations now rely more on alternative pipelines like the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan and Iraq–Turkiye pipelines.

Cape of Good Hope – The Long Detour

The Cape of Good Hope, located at Africa’s southern tip, has become a major backup route for ships avoiding the Red Sea and Suez Canal. 

Traffic there jumped from 6 million barrels per day to 8.7 million in 2024 as tensions in the Middle East worsened.

Although it’s a much longer and more expensive route, the Cape is considered one of the safest. Nearly 40 percent of oil shipped via this path now goes to China, while the US and South America account for most of the exports. Middle Eastern suppliers have also started using it to reach Europe.

While safer, this route adds extra travel time and costs, showing how global instability forces energy companies to trade efficiency for security.