# The sea’s grip on the global economy: The chokepoints that can bring world trade to its knees

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-seas-grip-on-the-global-economy-the-chokepoints-that-can-bring-world-trade-to-its-knees/
- Published: 2026-11-08T04:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T04:21:26+00:00
- Original publisher: El País (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2026-11-08/the-seas-grip-on-the-global-economy-the-chokepoints-that-can-bring-world-trade-to-its-knees.html
- Topics: Business, Economy, World

## Key points

- Sea routes carry more than 80% of global merchandise trade.
- Hormuz disruption is adding over $30 to the cost of each oil barrel.
- Weather and security threats put other key shipping routes at risk.

## Summary

More than 80% of global merchandise trade travels by sea, leaving the world economy exposed when conflict, weather or other disruption affects narrow maritime routes. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil consumption passed as recently as February, has restricted Persian Gulf exports and driven up fuel, shipping and consumer costs.

Analysts say higher shipping rates are adding more than $30 to each barrel of oil, about ten times the pre-conflict level. Other vulnerable routes include Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal, where security threats have unsettled shipping, and the Panama Canal, where drought has led to traffic and vessel-draft restrictions. The Strait of Malacca is another major trade and energy corridor; the article also identifies Gibraltar, the Turkish straits, Taiwan Strait, Lombok, Sunda and the English Channel as strategically important.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.