Nigerian LNG Shipment Navigates Red Sea Amid Houthi Threats, Highlighting Global Energy Trade Challenges
A Nigerian LNG carrier, GASLOG SALEM, has become the first LNG vessel in four months to transit the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint, amid ongoing threats from Houthi rebels. The vessel delivered its cargo from Nigeria to Bangladesh before proceeding into the Red Sea. This transit underscores the strategic challenges facing global energy trade, particularly in regions affected by geopolitical tensions. Despite this successful passage, shipping analysts caution that it does not indicate a broader return of LNG traffic through this security-challenged corridor. Recent threats from the Houthis have significantly reduced shipping traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with vessel crossings dropping nearly 30% in a single day. 
