Yemen’s Houthi rebels, defenders of the Palestinian cause, are attacking ships they say are linked to Israel with drones and missiles. Consequence: the Israeli port of Ashdod is slowing down.
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Since November 19, more than 20 attacks have been recorded in the Red Sea, according to the Institute for National Security Studies, an independent think tank affiliated with Tel Aviv University in Israel. Nearly 55 ships at least were diverted from their initial route, a decision taken to avoid the threat from the Houthi rebels, even if it meant taking a long detour around Africa. The economic consequences are now beginning to be felt in Israel, particularly at the port of Ashdod, the country’s largest port. Its activity had already been slowed down since the start of the war, and this crisis in the Red Sea did not help its affairs.
In the huge port of Ashdod, almost all the cranes are at a standstill. The containers remain on the ground and the traditional ballet of trucks has disappeared. Serguei, a truck driver, confirms the ambient calm. “The port is half empty, there are no containers. The cars we import into Israel, new cars, are not arriving in quantity either. With this war, there are entire companies that cannot not working“, he notes.
Price increases possible in January
Others are slowing down, like the import-export company in which accountant Raphaël Méroz works. His company is accumulating delivery delays, because the ships carrying the expected goods are now avoiding the Red Sea. “We import frozen fish from China and Vietnam, tuna in particular, in containers that pass through the Red Sea. If we have to continue to go all the way around Africa, it will be a very big problem“, he worries. “Taxes on maritime transport have already increased two or three times, insurance prices have also jumped. Everything increased“, he adds.
The Houthi rebels in Yemen are therefore managing to disrupt a whole section of the world economy, explains Israeli economist Elise Brezis. “These are modern pirates who are affecting all international trade. They don’t do it for money, they do it for politics. So prices will increase too“, she says. Prices could increase for consumers from January if the crisis in the Red Sea continues, particularly for textile products often imported from Asia.