Crude oil shipping routes remain central to the global energy supply chain, moving millions of barrels of oil daily from production hubs to consumption centres worldwide. As energy demand rises, these maritime corridors continue to play a vital role in global trade, energy security, and economic stability.
The Middle East, the world’s largest oil-exporting region, sends oil shipments to Europe, Asia, and the Americas through critical waterways. These include the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Other major routes include the Transatlantic and Transpacific corridors. Geography, geopolitics, and infrastructure all influence the flow and efficiency of these routes.
Read also: Top 5 Nigeria’s export destinations
According to Statista, global oil tanker capacity exceeded 650 million tonnes deadweight in 2023. In 2024, about two billion metric tons of crude oil were transported by sea. The demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) also continues to grow, with global LNG trade volumes reaching approximately 550 billion cubic metres in 2023 and an operational tanker capacity of 113 million cubic metres.
While pipelines offer a safer and more cost-efficient means of transport, their construction is complex and often politically sensitive. For longer distances and challenging terrains, oil tankers and LNG vessels remain the preferred option.
Marine Insights reports that the most active shipping routes originate from the Middle East, followed by North and West Africa, Southeast Asia, and the North Sea. Key destination regions include Northwestern Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Africa and the Americas.
Read also: Top 10 African nations with the largest proven oil reserves in 2025
According to Marine Insights, the ten busiest and most important crude oil shipping routes are:
1. Hormuz Strait
This is the most critical oil shipping route. It handles about 21 million barrels of crude oil every day. Located between Iran and Oman, the strait connects oil producers in the Gulf to markets in Asia and beyond. Its narrow structure makes it a strategic chokepoint for the global oil trade.
2. Malacca Strait
This is the shortest sea route linking the Middle East to Asian markets. It is heavily used for transporting oil and liquefied natural gas. The strait’s high traffic volume, combined with its narrow channels, makes it vulnerable to congestion, maritime accidents, and piracy.
Read also: Top 10 African countries with the largest intra-African exports growth
3. Suez Canal
The canal links the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. It plays a major role in moving crude oil from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe and North America. Despite handling millions of barrels daily, it faces limitations due to ship size and security challenges in the region.
4. Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Positioned between Djibouti and Yemen, this strait connects the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea. Oil tankers moving through the Suez Canal must also pass through Bab el-Mandeb. If blocked, oil shipments would be forced to reroute around the southern tip of Africa, increasing both cost and transit time.
Read also: Nigeria’s top 10 export products
5. Turkish Straits
These include the Bosporus and Dardanelles. They are the only maritime routes connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Oil from Russia and the Caspian region flows through these narrow straits. The geography makes navigation complex, especially for large tankers.
6. Danish Straits
These straits allow passage from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Russian oil exports, especially those leaving from ports like Primorsk, often travel through this route. In recent years, international sanctions have led to a decline in tanker movement along this path.
Read also: Nigeria’s top 10 trading partners for exports
7. Cape of Good Hope
This route is used when other passages, such as the Suez Canal or Bab el-Mandeb, are blocked or avoided. While significantly longer, it offers a secure path for oil shipments. Tankers travelling around Africa’s southern tip often do so when facing regional instability in other areas.
8. Panama Canal
Linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, this canal supports U.S. oil exports heading toward Asia. However, shipping volumes have been affected by changes in water levels, limiting the number of vessels that can pass at once.
Read also: Africa’s oil giants: The top 10 countries by reserves
9. Singapore Strait
This is a key channel for oil bound for East Asia. It is closely linked to the Malacca Strait and plays a critical role in the region’s energy supply. Its location near major refining hubs makes it one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
10. Gibraltar Strait
Connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea, this strait serves as a key tanker route. It also supports refuelling operations for vessels crossing long distances. Tankers travelling between West Africa, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe pass through this narrow passage.
