Chinese shipping firm COSCO has reportedly suspended shipping to Israeli through the strategic Red Sea, following the Yemeni Houthi rebels attacks on ships bound for Israel.
Israeli financial news website Globes reported COSCO’s decision on Sunday without providing further details, adding that the shipping firm is yet to notify international shippers of its decision.
The latest development comes amid repeated warnings by the Houthi rebels that they will prevent the passage of all ships bound for Israeli ports.
Reports have shown that Israeli shipping companies have already decided to reroute their vessels.
A growing number of international companies have also decided to pause shipments through the Red Sea.
Back in December, Oil giant BP announced that it had temporarily stopped its shipping operations via the Suez Canal after Houthi rebels growing attacks on commercial vessels.
The Swiss-headquartered Mediterranean Shipping Company (MCS) and France's CMA CGM also announced that they had rerouted their services and suspended passage of their cargoes through the Red Sea, joining Danish giant Maersk and German carrier Hapag-Lloyd in avoiding the strategic waterway.
Hong Kong-based shipping giant Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) also stopped cargo acceptance to and from the Israeli-occupied territories until further notice “due to operational issues.”
Evergreen, the Taiwanese container transportation and shipping company, said it had temporarily suspended import and export services in Israel until further notice, citing the security risk, in addition to halting journeys via the Suez Canal.