Les perturbations du commerce maritime : une menace pour l’économie mondiale

Solidarity with the people of Gaza

Since November, Yemeni Houthi rebels have claimed to be targeting ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that they believe are linked to Israel, in “solidarity” with the Palestinians in Gaza. The disruptions to trade in the Red Sea are particularly worrying as “over 80%” of the world’s trade in goods is done by sea and “other important routes are already under pressure,” noted the UNCTAD expert.

Thus, transit via the Black Sea was heavily disrupted after Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to a surge in global food prices in the following months. And due to a drought, the water level in the Panama Canal has significantly decreased, reducing traffic. Last month, the number of passages through the canal decreased by 36% compared to a year earlier, and by 62% compared to two years earlier, according to UNCTAD.

“Prolonged disruptions on major trade routes could affect global supply chains, resulting in delays in the delivery of goods, an increase in costs, and a risk of inflation,” the UN agency noted, particularly concerned about global food prices.