World Oil Chokepoints

The world’s oil dependence is facilitated by a complex delivery system, which, if disrupted, could dramatically impair the global economy. Oil supplies are particularly vulnerable at specific geographic “chokepoints” en route to their final destinations. Chokepoints are waterways or overland pipelines that transport large quantities of oil across narrow channels or vulnerable regions. The consequences of natural disaster, accident, or terrorist attacks at any of these points would affect our way of life -- from the financial markets and international trade to airline travel and gas prices -- for months. Click to enlarge the map and read brief descriptions of selected maritime and land-based chokepoints that are imperative to transporting oil globally.

Bosporus Strait: The Bosporus Straight is a 17 mile long waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Each day, more than 3 million barrels are transported along this route. This strait is one of the world’s busiest and most difficult to navigate. Over 5,000 oil tankers traverse the waterway every year, an average of more than 15 per day. Blockage of this route would severely limit oil shipments to Southern and Western Europe.

Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan Pipeline: The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline stretches 1093 miles across the countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey and has the capacity to transport 1 million barrels of oil per day. In addition, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan recently signed an agreement to allow for the eventual export of Kazakh oil through the BTC. The pipeline helps to lessen OPECs influence by allowing the West direct access to sources of oil from the Caspian region. Its disruption would reduce this valuable diversification.

Strait of Hormuz: The Strait of Hormuz is located between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. It is by far the world’s most important chokepoint; over 17 million barrels of oil per day (roughly one fourth of the world’s total oil consumption) travel out of the Persian Gulf through this strait. Closure of the Strait of Hormuz would dramatically affect the world oil market, sending oil prices well over $100 per barrel and restricting access to oil products to only the wealthiest buyers.

Strait of Malacca: The Strait of Malacca runs between islands in Malaysian and Indonesia and connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. It is the shortest sea route between the Middle East and Asian markets and allows shipment of nearly 80% of the oil to China, Japan, and South Korea. Almost 12 million barrels per day are shipped through this route. Thus, Asia would feel the initial and most extreme consequences of a disruption of the Strait of Malacca’s shipping lanes, but the effects would eventually damage economies worldwide.

Bab el-Mandeb: This strait, meaning gate of tears in Arabic, connects the Red Sea with the Arabian Sea, and runs between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. It is an important passage from the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal complex and the Mediterranean Sea. Three million barrels of oil per day flow through the strait. Disruption in the waterway would force oil shipments to Europe around the southern tip of Africa, dramatically lengthening the shipping timeframe and raising the price of oil.

Suez Canal and Sumed Pipeline: The Suez Canal and Sumed Pipeline complex is a 101 mile long canal located in Egypt. It traverses the northeast corner of the country and links the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. More than 4 million barrels of oil per day are shipped long this route. Closure of either the canal or the pipeline would divert oil tankers around Africa and greatly lengthen transit time.

Panama Canal and Pipeline: The Panama Canal and Pipeline are located on the isthmus dividing North and South America. Together, they ship slightly less than 1 million barrels per day.

Sources:
EIA Country Analysis Briefs “World Oil Transit Chokepoints.”
The Economist “Going for the Jugular: Shipping in Southeast Asia,” June 10, 2004.