The Strait of Malacca lies between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra and carries ships between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
It is one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors. Vessels using the route travel between the Andaman Sea, part of the Indian Ocean, and the Singapore Strait, which opens toward the South China Sea.
The strait has supported trade for centuries. Its shores became meeting points for merchants from South Asia, China, Arabia, and Southeast Asia, helping spread languages, religions, and political influence across the region.
The Strait of Malacca is often confused with the Sunda Strait, which lies farther south between Sumatra and Java. Singapore sits at the strait’s southeastern gateway and is a major global transshipment centre because of this strategic location.