The data, from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS),
covered the period from mid-December to the beginning of April. .
There are fears that soaring costs for insurance, fuel
and wages risk stoking a fresh wave of inflation as the diversion to Europe
from destinations such as manufacturing powerhouse China, around the southern
tip of Africa, adds up to 14 days to
transit times.
Houthi fighters based in Yemen have been targeting
ships which, they claim, have links to Israel. They argue that they are acting
in sympathy with Palestinians and a number of attacks have found their targets
despite a US-led naval operation to protect vessels in the Red Sea.
The
vast majority of major shipping companies have, for some months, used the
diversion around the Cape of Good Hope.
The prospect of more perilous journeys for tankers has
been a factor behind rising oil prices. Brent crude, which had been trading
around the $80 a barrel mark at the start of the year, rose as high as $91
earlier this month amid the see-saw of tension across the conflict in the
Middle East. It culminated in
tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and Iran.
It is currently trading at $88, reflecting the lack of
escalation since last week.
The AA reported on Tuesday 23 April that average
petrol costs in the UK had crossed back above the 150p-a-litre mark for the
first time since November.
Experts
have warned that they probably have further to go, with a weaker pound versus
the dollar this month adding to higher oil costs as the commodity is priced in
the US currency.