Maritime Energy Chokepoints

A maritime energy chokepoint is a narrow sea passage or canal through which large volumes of crude oil and petroleum products must transit. Because alternative routes are limited, disruption at one chokepoint can threaten the availability, affordability and timely delivery of petroleum far beyond the affected region.

Geography of vulnerability

Petroleum trade is exposed because production centres, refineries and consuming markets are geographically separated, while tanker routes converge at a few narrow passages.

• The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is central to seaborne petroleum exports from Gulf producers.
• The Strait of Malacca links the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and supports petroleum flows towards East and Southeast Asia.
• The Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal and SUMED pipeline form important links between the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and Mediterranean routes.
• The Turkish Straits connect Black Sea petroleum routes with the Mediterranean.

How disruption affects supply chains

Disruption may result from conflict, attacks on shipping, blockades, accidents, piracy or canal closure. Its consequences spread through both physical supply chains and globally integrated petroleum markets.

• Closure or insecurity can force tankers onto longer routes, increasing voyage time, fuel use, freight charges and insurance costs.
• Longer voyages tie up tankers and reduce the effective availability of shipping capacity.
• Delayed crude deliveries can reduce refinery operations, while delayed product shipments can create regional shortages.
• Expectations of disruption can raise benchmark prices even where physical deliveries continue, transmitting the shock to countries using other routes.
• Alternative pipelines and routes provide flexibility, but their capacity, location and compatibility may be limited.

Building petroleum supply security

Resilience requires reducing dependence on any single supplier, route or mode of transport rather than attempting to eliminate maritime trade.

• Governments and firms can diversify suppliers, ports and shipping routes.
• Strategic petroleum reserves and commercial inventories provide temporary cover during interruptions.
• Bypass pipelines, adequate refining flexibility and spare production capacity can moderate physical shortages.
• International coordination, navigational safety and protection of sea lanes help maintain reliable flows.
• Long-term demand efficiency and diversification of the energy mix reduce exposure to petroleum shocks.

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