New pipelines can bypass a chokepoint. They cannot bypass geopolitical risk.
In a new Al Majalla analysis, regional oil producers are exploring alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz, from Saudi Arabia’s East–West pipeline to new routes through Fujairah, Syria and Türkiye.
But alternative infrastructure does not remove risk. It redistributes it.
Dryad Global CEO Corey Ranslem notes that Red Sea vessel traffic fell by an estimated 80–85% following the Houthi campaign, with many operators continuing to route around the Cape of Good Hope. Replacing Hormuz would also require alternative capacity of roughly 20–25 million barrels per day, an undertaking demanding significant time and investment.
The lesson for shipping and energy leaders is clear: infrastructure redundancy is essential, but it must be paired with current intelligence, scenario planning and voyage-specific risk assessment.
At Dryad Global, we turn source-traced, analyst-reviewed maritime intelligence into decision-ready insight—helping operators understand how risk is changing, where it is moving and what it means for their next voyage.
How is your organisation stress-testing its exposure to the world’s maritime chokepoints?