The Malacca Strait represents one of the world's most concentrated maritime chokepoints, where the Indian Ocean meets the South China Sea through a passage running between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.

Geographic Constraints

At its narrowest point, the strait is only approximately 65 kilometres wide, yet it carries an outsized share of global trade. The shallow waters and narrow passage create natural challenges for navigation and make the strait highly monitorable.

Commercial Significance

An estimated 25-30% of global seaborne trade transits the strait annually, including:

• Roughly one quarter of all maritime oil shipments
• Critical energy flows between the Middle East and East Asia
• Manufactured goods moving between Europe, Africa, and the Pacific

Strategic Dependencies

Dependence on the strait is especially acute for:

• **China** - whose energy security is closely tied to uninterrupted Malacca traffic (the "Malacca Dilemma")
• **Japan and South Korea** - both heavily reliant on imported oil, LNG, and raw materials
• **Regional hubs** - Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, whose economies and port infrastructure are deeply tied to its stability
• **India** - for trade flows linking the Indian Ocean to East Asia

Strategic Value

Disruption to the Malacca Strait would force vessels onto much longer routes via the Lombok or Sunda Straits, sharply increasing transit times, fuel costs, and insurance premiums. This geographic reality makes the strait a potential strategic pressure point in great-power competition.