Ships choosing Africa over the Middle East now #shipping #geopolitics

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]One blockade in the Middle East is reshaping global shipping. The Suez Canal was the standard route. Ships passed through quickly. Then the Strait of Hormuz got blockaded. Suddenly, ships cannot go through. They have two choices: wait months in the Persian Gulf or take a different route. Most are choosing Africa. They are sailing around Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. Tanker traffic around Cape of Good Hope is at its highest levels since early 2025. Ships that normally take 14 days through Suez now take 45 days around Africa. Africa is suddenly critical. South Africa controls the Cape. Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya provide ports. These nations are gaining geopolitical leverage.

[00:00:39]They are becoming essential to global trade. Oil prices remain high because of shipping delays. This blockade is not just a Middle East problem. It is a global problem and Africa is at the center. Subscribe.