As more than 80% of the world's goods are transported by sea, the Strait of Hormuz is not the only critical passage where a blockage could severely disrupt global trade. Several other narrow straits and canals are vital to the movement of goods and energy, and their potential closure poses significant risks to the global economy. The Suez Canal, a 193-kilometer-long waterway 300 meters wide, is one of the most important maritime routes in the world. Built in the 19th century by Ferdinand de Lesseps, it is controlled by Egypt and is central to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The canal was closed for eight years after the 1967 Six-Day War and saw reduced traffic in 2023 due to attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen, linked to the conflict in Gaza. The Bab El-Mandeb Strait, located at the southern end of the Red Sea, is another critical passage. At its narrowest, it is 26 kilometers wide and handles 13% of global maritime traffic, including 75% of European exports. A detour around the Cape of Good Hope would add 6,500 kilometers to the journey. In 2023, the Houthi rebels again disrupted traffic, and in September 2026, they took control of an island in the strait, further tightening their grip. The Panama Canal, an 80-kilometer route, carries 3% of global maritime trade but handles 40% of American containers. In 2024, former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to reclaim control of the canal, citing concerns over Chinese influence. In February 2026, Panama canceled port concessions held by the Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Group, reflecting ongoing tensions. Meanwhile, the Strait of Gibraltar, the only direct maritime link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, sees an average of 100,000 commercial ships pass through annually. This 14-kilometer-wide passage is also a key route for illegal immigration, as seen during the Ceuta crisis in July 2026, when 80,000 migrants moved from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The Taiwan Strait, 358 kilometers long and separating mainland China from Taiwan, handles a fifth of global maritime trade. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has challenged free movement in the strait. A blockage would be catastrophic for Taiwan, which depends heavily on imports for energy and raw materials. The Strait of Malacca, at its narrowest point only 2.7 kilometers wide, is another critical choke point. This 930-kilometer-long passage sees one in four goods transported by sea and is a key route for hydrocarbons to China and Japan. In April 2026, Indonesia threatened to impose a toll on ships passing through, but later withdrew the proposal due to international opposition.