China has announced the launch of a direct shipping line from three major Chinese ports, including Qingdao, to the port of Hodeidah in Yemen, which is under Houthi control.
Operated by Chinese company ZBM, the service offers regular sailings with competitive rates — about $4,300 for a 20-foot container and $5,950 for a 40-foot container — along with full end-to-end logistics packages.
For the Houthis, this is a significant economic development, giving them direct access to one of the world’s largest trading powers and reducing reliance on alternative smuggling routes.
For Israel, however, the move is deeply troubling. The IDF has repeatedly struck Hodeidah port in recent months, citing its use as a hub for smuggling advanced Iranian weaponry to the Houthis.