Yemen’s Houthi-run maritime authority denied on Saturday that the group has decided to impose fees on ships transiting the Red Sea, pushing back against reports that it was preparing to charge vessels using one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.
Passage through the Bab el-Mandeb strait remains free, the Houthi center said, confirming that its so-called safe transit service is voluntary and cost-free. The statement also urged shipping companies not to pay unauthorized individuals or entities claiming to collect tolls, according to a Reuters report published by The Economic Times.
The denial came hours after The Times of Israel reported that the Houthis denied reaching any decision to impose fees on ships sailing through the Red Sea, and days after a Reuters exclusive said the group was considering charging vessels for passage. The Jerusalem Post quoted the group as saying it has no plans to tax vessels despite its ongoing blockade of Israeli-linked shipping.
The dispute over transit fees marks an escalation in the Houthis’ campaign against international shipping that has reshaped global trade since the group began attacking vessels in late 2023. Attacks have forced major carriers to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks of transit time and billions of dollars in costs.
The fee discussion comes as Saudi Arabia has been building a 14-nation maritime coalition to protect Red Sea routes, and as the wider US-Iran conflict has pushed crude prices higher. Analysts have warned that any formal toll system by the Houthis would effectively formalize what amounts to an extortion racket over one of the world’s most vital trade corridors.
The Houthis, who control the Yemeni capital Sanaa and much of the country’s Red Sea coast, have portrayed their campaign as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The group has previously threatened Israeli shipping and vessels linked to the United States and Britain in response to the wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Shipping industry executives have said the prospect of fees adds a new layer of uncertainty for insurers and charterers already paying steep war-risk premiums on Red Sea voyages. The denial suggests the group is still weighing the diplomatic and economic consequences of a toll system, even as it keeps the threat of one on the table.
Sources: The Times of Israel, The Economic Times, Reuters via The Economic Times
Author: Middle East Desk
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