Article Summary
Disruptions at key maritime chokepoints are placing increasing pressure on global supply chains, raising concerns over energy security, food availability and economic stability worldwide.

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By Aimi Mohamad Farid

 

 

SERDANG, 21 April – Disruptions at key maritime chokepoints are placing increasing pressure on global supply chains, raising concerns over energy security, food availability and economic stability worldwide.

 

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University Putra Malaysia (UPM), Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab Kadir, said these strategic sea routes function as critical arteries of global trade, with more than 80 per cent of world goods transported by volume via maritime shipping.

 

“Maritime chokepoints are not merely narrow sea lanes, but systemic pressure points in the global economy. Any disruption can quickly escalate into energy shocks, rising food prices and widespread economic instability,” he said.

 

He identified major chokepoints including the Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal and Panama Canal as essential yet interconnected routes sustaining global trade flows.

 

The Strait of Hormuz remains vital for global energy supply, handling a substantial share of oil shipments, while the Strait of Malacca serves as a key corridor for energy imports into Asia, particularly for major economies such as China.

 

Recent disruptions, he noted, have forced vessels to reroute through longer and more expensive paths, driving up freight and insurance costs while delaying deliveries.

 

“These developments are straining the global logistics system, increasing operational costs and affecting supply timelines,” he said.

 

 

The knock-on effects extend to rising energy prices, which in turn elevate electricity, transportation and production costs, contributing to inflationary pressures worldwide.

 

Food security is also at risk, as higher shipping and fuel costs push up prices of essential imports such as grains, edible oils, animal feed and perishable goods.

 

Dr. Mohd Zainal Abidin warned that ASEAN countries face heightened vulnerability due to their dual role as major trade corridors and import-dependent economies for energy and food.

 

Malaysia, despite being an energy producer, remains exposed due to its reliance on maritime trade and continued imports of crude oil and key food commodities, including cereals.

 

“The impact could translate into imported inflation, higher subsidy burdens and increased pressure on food affordability, particularly for lower-income groups,” he said.

 

Describing the current situation as a “stacked chokepoints crisis”, he cautioned that simultaneous disruptions across multiple maritime routes could amplify global supply chain shocks, escalate costs and slow economic growth.

 

For Malaysia, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Malacca alone could significantly raise import and logistics costs, leading to higher domestic prices of essential goods.

 

He stressed that compounded disruptions involving Bab el-Mandeb, the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal would further strain global trade, underscoring the urgency for Malaysia and ASEAN to strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce dependence on vulnerable maritime routes.

Date of Input: 21/04/2026 | Updated: 21/04/2026 | hairul_nizam