There are bigger shipping choke points than Suez

News Snapshot:

Exactly how much trade transits the South China Sea is a much debated point. The Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimated the value at $US3.4 trillion for 2016, 36 per cent less than other assessments for the same time period. Pratson puts it at $US4.1 trillion for 2019, with $US3.9 trillion going via the Malacca Strait. There’s some overlap because goods pass through several sea lanes on the way to their final destination. Ripple effect The precise number doesn’t really matter. What’s important for shippers, manufacturers and governments is to understand the severity of the impact should a...