Been watching all of these lol

[2026-08-03] Inside China Business — The Strait of Hormuz was closed in the early days of this year's War on Iran, with severe impacts on the the global energy trade.

Now maritime shipping faces its worst crisis in modern times, as other major chokepoints are shut off.

The Houthis have again sealed off the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The Panama Canal traffic is slowing, because of low rainfall. The Danube and Rhine Rivers in Europe are at record-low levels and shipping volumes are down 80%.

Shipping through the Turkish Straits is also threatened by the strikes on refineries and port facilities on the Black Sea.

We have no historical data to guide decisionmaking, in the case of multiple failures in the maritime shipping industry.

Closing scene, Qinghai

Resources and links:

Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia, data shows
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/red-sea-shipping-slows-after-houthi-attack-saudi-arabia-data-shows-2026-07-27/

What are the impacts of the Red Sea shipping crisis?
https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/supply-chain/red-sea-shipping

Commercial navigation in the Red Sea under attack
https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/repositories/red-sea-crisis-impacts-global-shipping.pdf

El Niño Hits the Panama Canal
https://www.wsj.com/wsjplus/dashboard/articles/el-nino-hits-the-panama-canal-a27222c3

Global Trade Faces Fresh Test as Panama Canal Curbs Bookings
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-21/panama-canal-to-suspend-some-vessel-bookings-on-water-outlook

Rhine water level drops to around record lows, costs for industry rise
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/rhine-water-level-drops-around-record-lows-costs-industry-rise-2026-07-31/

Rhine water level close to record lows, cargo vessels keep sailing
https://kfgo.com/2026/07/30/rhine-water-level-close-to-record-lows-cargo-vessels-keep-sailing/

River Conditions in Manaus (Brazil) – Dry Season Period 2026
https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/2026/07/17/river-conditions-manaus-brazil-dry-season

Temporary Suspension of the Daily Auction – Panamax Locks
https://nortonlilly.com.pa/temporary-suspension-daily-auction-panamax-locks/

The world's most strategic straits and channels
https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2026/mapping-oil-hormuz-chokepoint/

Ukraine's Black Sea ports lose a third of grain export capacity, farmers' union says
https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraines-black-sea-ports-lose-third-grain-export-capacity-farmers-union-says-2026-07-15/