Been watching all of these lol
[2026-08-03] Inside China Business — The Strait of Hormuz was closed in the early days of this year’s War on Iran, with severe impacts on the the global energy trade.
Now maritime shipping faces its worst crisis in modern times, as other major chokepoints are shut off.
The Houthis have again sealed off the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The Panama Canal traffic is slowing, because of low rainfall. The Danube and Rhine Rivers in Europe are at record-low levels and shipping volumes are down 80%.
Shipping through the Turkish Straits is also threatened by the strikes on refineries and port facilities on the Black Sea.
We have no historical data to guide decisionmaking, in the case of multiple failures in the maritime shipping industry.
Closing scene, Qinghai
Resources and links:
Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia, data shows https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/red-sea-shipping-slows-after-houthi-attack-saudi-arabia-data-shows-2026-07-27/
What are the impacts of the Red Sea shipping crisis? https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/supply-chain/red-sea-shipping
Commercial navigation in the Red Sea under attack https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/repositories/red-sea-crisis-impacts-global-shipping.pdf
El Niño Hits the Panama Canal https://www.wsj.com/wsjplus/dashboard/articles/el-nino-hits-the-panama-canal-a27222c3
Global Trade Faces Fresh Test as Panama Canal Curbs Bookings https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-21/panama-canal-to-suspend-some-vessel-bookings-on-water-outlook
Rhine water level drops to around record lows, costs for industry rise https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/rhine-water-level-drops-around-record-lows-costs-industry-rise-2026-07-31/
Rhine water level close to record lows, cargo vessels keep sailing https://kfgo.com/2026/07/30/rhine-water-level-close-to-record-lows-cargo-vessels-keep-sailing/
River Conditions in Manaus (Brazil) – Dry Season Period 2026 https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/2026/07/17/river-conditions-manaus-brazil-dry-season
Temporary Suspension of the Daily Auction – Panamax Locks https://nortonlilly.com.pa/temporary-suspension-daily-auction-panamax-locks/
The world’s most strategic straits and channels https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2026/mapping-oil-hormuz-chokepoint/
Ukraine’s Black Sea ports lose a third of grain export capacity, farmers’ union says https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraines-black-sea-ports-lose-third-grain-export-capacity-farmers-union-says-2026-07-15/