Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to seven vessels on Thursday, significantly below the recent 10-day average of 15, according to preliminary tracking data. The sharp decline highlights the continuing disruption to one of the world’s most important energy routes amid tensions involving Iran and the wider Middle East.
Data from ship-tracking company Kpler showed that two Panamax vessels exited the strait on Thursday. One was carrying fertiliser, while the other was sailing without cargo. Five vessels entered the waterway, including ships carrying dry bulk cargo, steel and grains, along with a medium-range tanker carrying petroleum products.
The figures may not capture every vessel movement. Ships that switch off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to avoid detection are excluded from the tracking data.
The latest numbers are far below normal levels. Before the Iran war began on February 28, around 125 large commercial vessels typically passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day. These included oil tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and container ships. The waterway is particularly important for global energy markets, handling roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
Some QatarEnergy-linked vessels have also been observed around the strait in recent days. Two ballast vessels, Al Ghashamiya and Al Daayen, appeared inside the waterway earlier this week after previously being seen outside it.
Another QatarEnergy-controlled vessel, Al Marrouna, exited the strait on September 10 after carrying an LNG shipment from Ras Laffan to Pakistan. The voyage was reportedly the first known LNG shipment aboard a Qatar-linked tanker since late July.
Meanwhile, shipping activity has also weakened in the nearby Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Twenty-six commodity vessels passed through the waterway on Thursday, compared with a 10-day average of about 27.
The reduced traffic comes as geopolitical tensions continue to affect regional shipping. A US blockade targeting Iran-related shipping has also halted Iranian crude oil exports since being reimposed in mid-July.
The situation remains closely watched by global energy and shipping markets because prolonged disruption in the region could affect fuel supplies, freight costs and international trade.
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