Yemeni Houthis Set Up Missile and Drone Production Using Chinese Components – Bloomberg

Yemeni Houthis have established missile and drone production using equipment and components of Chinese origin that are entering Yemen as commercial goods and dual-use items.

This is reported by Bloomberg, which analyzed intercepted cargo, customs documents, and UN reports, and spoke with Yemeni officials and experts.

The publication describes these shipments as part of a network supporting the Houthis’ military-industrial capabilities.

During a detailed inspection in July 2026, phenolic resin—a heat-resistant material that can be used in missile production—was found in one of the containers, along with tail fins and other parts resembling ballistic missile components.

Subsequently, three more containers linked to the same supply network were inspected at the port of Aden. They were found to contain what appeared to be missile body components, guidance systems, launch equipment, CNC machine tools, and twin-cylinder engines suitable for use in unmanned aerial vehicles.

The head of the port department of the counterterrorism unit stated that the components had been deliberately distributed among four containers, making them difficult to detect. In his assessment, the seized parts collectively constituted the components of a nearly complete missile assembly.

The cargo also included earthmoving and ventilation equipment, which, according to Yemeni security officials, could be used in the construction of underground infrastructure.

At the same time, a significant portion of the discovered products is dual-use and can be legally used in the civilian industry. Bloomberg notes that there is no evidence that the Chinese manufacturers were aware of the products’ end user.

Experts interviewed by the publication note that the availability of Chinese engines, electronics, flight controllers, GPS modules, servo drives, and composite materials makes it possible to procure a significant portion of the components needed for the production of attack drones through regular commercial channels.

From Iranian supplies to domestic production

Previously, the Houthis relied heavily on shipments of finished weapons from Iran. In July 2025, Yemeni forces intercepted a large shipment of weapons bound for the group, which included missiles and other systems of Iranian origin.

However, the supply model subsequently began to change: instead of exclusively receiving ready-made weapons, the Houthis began to receive components, equipment, and materials that allow them to assemble missiles and drones directly in Yemen. It is precisely this trend that is confirmed by the shipments of Chinese components and industrial equipment described by Bloomberg.

The results of their development of in-house drone systems are already becoming apparent on the battlefield. In August 2026, Militarnyi reported that the Houthis had struck a Saudi M1A2S Abrams tank with munitions dropped from a UAV.

At the same time, the group is expanding its control over strategic areas of the country. In September, the Houthis captured the port of Mocha near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, so the growth of their ability to independently produce missiles and drones is becoming increasingly important for the safety of shipping in the Red Sea.