Houthi attacks keep Red Sea shipping risk elevated, Oct 20–22 2026

As of 22 October 2026, open-source trackers and analyst briefs report continued Houthi anti-ship activity and elevated commercial shipping risk around the Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandeb, with multiple incidents recorded in the prior two weeks and shipping transits continuing under heightened exposure.

Continued Houthi attacks and reported maritime incidents keep commercial shipping exposure in the southern Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandeb elevated. That sustained exposure preserves higher war‑risk insurance premiums and encourages some carriers to keep Cape‑of‑Good‑Hope routings, prolonging higher freight costs and slower Asia‑Europe transit times unless a verified de‑escalation or confirmed closure is reported.

UKMTO, Clarksons or Clarksons‑sourced weekly Suez transit figures confirming either a verified merchant-ship attack or a 48‑hour cessation of commercial passages through Bab al‑Mandeb.