Oil markets depend on a few narrow maritime passages to keep supply flowing. These oil supply chokepoints are vital arteries of the global energy system, transporting tens of millions of barrels daily. This visualization highlights the world’s most important oil transit chokepoints and their share of global maritime oil trade.
This visualization shows the amount of crude and petroleum liquids passing through major maritime chokepoints in the first half of 2025, measured in million barrels per day (mb/d), along with their share of the global maritime oil trade. About 73 million barrels of oil per day moved through these key chokepoints, comprising most of the world’s seaborne oil trade.
The Strait of Malacca: The Busiest Oil Corridor
The Strait of Malacca, located between Malaysia and Indonesia, is the world’s busiest oil chokepoint. About 23.2 million barrels per day passed through this narrow waterway in the first half of 2025, representing roughly 29.1% of global maritime oil trade. The Strait of Malacca links the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea, serving as a vital route for oil shipments to China, Japan, and South Korea. Its narrow channel and heavy traffic make it susceptible to congestion and geopolitical tensions.
The Strait of Hormuz: A Critical Energy Artery
The Strait of Hormuz, situated between Oman and Iran, transported about 20.9 million barrels per day in the first half of 2025—approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption. It links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and its depth and width are sufficient to accommodate the world’s largest crude oil tankers. Approximately 84% of the crude oil passing through Hormuz is headed for Asian markets, including China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Because much of Gulf production relies on this route, any disruption could cause shockwaves in global oil prices.
Other Key Chokepoints Across the Globe
Beyond Malacca and Hormuz, several other routes are critical in global oil movement. The Suez Canal and the SUMED Pipeline transport about 4.9 million barrels of oil each day, linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Nearby, Bab el-Mandeb handles approximately 4.2 million barrels daily, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Danish Straits and Turkish Straits
In Europe, the Danish Straits and Turkish Straits serve as crucial gateways for Russian and Caspian oil exports, with about 4.9 million and 3.7 million barrels per day, respectively.
Panama Canal
Meanwhile, the Panama Canal handled around 2.3 million barrels per day, while longer routes like the Cape of Good Hope handled about 9.1 million barrels per day, as tankers traveled between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
