Global distribution of key maritime chokepoints: The Strait of Malacca is the busiest, with supply chain risks that cannot be ignored.

Foreign Media: Over 80% of global trade volume is carried out via maritime transport, yet vessel traffic is highly concentrated in a few critical shipping lanes.

As of April 12, 2026, the Strait of Malacca leads the world in vessel traffic with 23,100 transits, followed closely by the Taiwan Strait with 22,800 transits. Other key chokepoints include the Cape of Good Hope (8,900 transits), the Strait of Hormuz (5,200 transits), the Suez Canal (3,900 transits), and the Panama Canal (3,200 transits).

The geographical concentration of these vital passages exposes global supply chains to systemic risks—geopolitical tensions, extreme weather, or infrastructure bottlenecks can all lead to shipping disruptions, soaring costs, and market shortages, with impacts rapidly spreading to businesses and consumers far from the incident locations.

Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1867125808886793/

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