The Houthis… are strangling global trade in the Red Sea – to what extent has Greece been affected?

The attacks by Iranian-backed militias caused a “heart attack” in the world commerceThe United States and its allies respond with strikes against it Yemeni rebelsBut tensions in the region's sea lanes have actually slowed shipping routes, creating a supply chain crisis that has had a significant impact on inflation.

The tension in the Middle East was not ignored even by the Greek Prime Minister, who in the morning from Davos referred to geopolitical developments, in an interview with… Bloomberg: “We are in the eastern Mediterranean, we are Stability pillar In a troubled area. “There is concern about geopolitical developments and we are doing our best to prevent the expansion of the conflict in the Middle East,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

Of course, it is no coincidence that a few days ago, another Greek-owned ship (after the St. Nicholas in the Gulf of Aden) was attacked by the Houthis. Specifically, on Tuesday afternoon, the cargo ship was hit by a missile in the Red Sea. The ship, flying the Maltese flag, is owned by the Athens-based Vulcanus Technical Maritime Enterprise.

According to Sky, the Houthis took responsibility for the naval missile strike late in the afternoon of the same day. The ship had sailed empty from Vietnam, bound for Israel, when it was hit. Despite the strike, he continued his march towards Suez.

200 thousand containers did not reach Piraeus

At the same time, President of the Professional Chamber of Athens John HatzitheodosiouHe sounded the alarm about the tense situation in the Middle East in his talk to ERT For new increases in product prices. In particular, increases in cargo prices due to increased risks of crossing the Suez Canal began to be felt in Greece as well, where the port of Piraeus was not affected.

“Currently, about 200,000 containers have not arrived in Piraeus due to the (Suez Canal) blockade and what these ships are forced to do is go around Africa, which means a delay of 15 to 20 days,” explained Mr. Hatzitheodosiou. .

He stressed that in addition to the long delivery period, this delay also affects the cost of transportation, noting that each container is now burdened with $6,000 and increased insurance premiums.

Transportation costs have tripled

The head of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that transportation costs have not only increased, but have tripled. Santa CorkidsIn the OpensConfirming that container imports at Piraeus Port decreased by 45% in the first 15 days of January.

“Currently, there are 200,000 containers circling Africa, because 67% of ships avoid going through Suez. Insurance and commodity companies do not insure them.” As he pointed out “…they will come with a delay of maybe two weeks to unload their cargo at other ports and we have to pay extra to come to Piraeus with smaller ships. Today, transportation costs have at least tripled. Transporting a 40-foot container used to cost $1,875 before the crisis.” Today it costs $6,150.

The amount of international prices

Shipping rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai rose 50%, or $323, to $975 per 40-foot container. Prices from Shanghai to Los Angeles rose 38% or $1,070 to $3,860 per FEU. In addition, prices from Shanghai to New York increased by 35% or US$1,474 to US$5,644 per 40-foot container.

Likewise, prices from Shanghai to Genoa rose by 21% or US$1,069 to US$6,282 per FEU. Prices from Shanghai to Rotterdam rose 12%, or US$545, to US$4,951 for a 40-foot container. Prices from New York to Rotterdam also rose 2%, or $9, to $608 per 40-foot container.

However, prices from Los Angeles to Shanghai fell 1%, or $4, to $762. Prices between Rotterdam and New York remained stable. Drori expects spot prices between east and west to rise in the coming weeks due to the situation in the Red Sea and Suez.

Al-Houthi: We do not seek to expand the attacks

the Houthi Ha Yemeni They said they did not intend to expand their attacks on ships in The Red Sea And around it, beyond their stated goals of isolating Israel and retaliating for US and British air strikes.

In an interview with Reuters, the actor said: Mohammed AbdulsalamHe, who is also the Houthis' main negotiator in peace talks over the country's more than decade-long civil war, said the group has no plans to target its old enemies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

He added: “We do not want the escalation to expand. This is not our request. Abdel Salam said: “We imposed rules of engagement in which not a single drop of blood was shed and no heavy material losses occurred.” “It was just pressure on Israel, and it was not pressure on any country.” In the world”.

They promised “safe passage” for Russia and China

At the same time, in a press conference he gave Muhammad Al-BahitiMember of the Supreme Political Council of the Houthis in Al-Youm newspaper Izvestia newspaper He said that China and Russia's maritime transport is not threatened, even giving guarantees Safe passage Some of them are from the Red Sea.

“Madness and stupidity United States of America And the UK proceeds against them: Now none of the ships They will not be able to pass through one of the world's major trade routes. Muhammad Al-Bahiti, a member of the Supreme Political Council of the Houthis, said that the losses of the attacking countries are greater than those of Yemen.

As for other countries, including China and Russia, shipping The area is not threatened. The movement's leader added: “We are ready to ensure the safe passage of their ships through the Red Sea.”