Watan-The Israeli occupation’s trade in the Middle East faces escalating threats due to Houthi attacks on ships, with media reports warning of significant economic repercussions for Tel Aviv.
This is particularly concerning for trade relations with Asia, valued at $41 billion in 2022 according to statistical data.
Based on maritime sources, the increasing threat from the Houthi group in Yemen indicates a heightened level of risk for Israel’s foreign trade.
The intensification of these threats raises concerns about potentially critical shifts in trade dynamics, especially with Asian, African, and Gulf countries.
Exportation of the occupation to Asian countries
According to the “Statista” statistical website, the value of Israel’s exports to Asian countries in 2022 exceeded $16.5 billion.
The website states that this increase was moderate compared to the previous year, 2021.
Commercial relations between Israel and Asian countries have been significantly strengthened in recent years, including import and export trade in a wide range of goods, especially with India.
In 2021, Israel’s imports from Asia amounted to more than $24.6 billion in 2022. This means that Houthi attacks threaten around $41 billion of Israel’s trade with countries in the continent.
Although this volume of external imports for Israel has not stopped yet, the costs of import and export continue to rise day by day, adding further burdens to the war and inflation in the economy of Tel Aviv.
This also deepens the losses for traders who will need financial assistance from the Israeli central bank.
Losses of the Israeli occupation in numbers
According to the “Haaretz” newspaper, the Houthi group has become a threat to Israel’s interests by targeting its ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis now pose a threat to Israeli foreign trade in the Red Sea, especially from the perspective of imports coming from East Asia.
The Houthi group had announced the prevention of any ship heading to Israeli ports, and they confirmed that the decision would only be reconsidered in the case of the entry of food and medicine into the Gaza Strip.
Due to the risks of war and its high costs, the losses of the Israeli occupation from the Yemeni attack on maritime trade have rapidly escalated with transportation costs, and international ships are avoiding the ports of the Israeli occupation.
In recent years, the trade of the occupation has shifted towards countries in East and Southeast Asia, and its trade increasingly relies on maritime routes passing through the Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal, meaning a greater impact from Houthi attacks.