Commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply as military tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate.
According to preliminary data from ship-tracking firm Kpler, only six commodity vessels passed through the waterway on Tuesday. That was down from nine vessels the previous day and below the 10-day average of about 12 vessels. Five of the six ships were entering the strait, while one was leaving.
The decline highlights the growing risks faced by shipping companies operating through the strategic waterway. Some vessels may also be travelling with their Automatic Identification System transponders switched off, meaning the actual number of crossings could be higher than the publicly tracked figure.
Before the current conflict, the Strait of Hormuz typically handled around 125 large commercial vessels each day, including oil tankers and liquefied natural gas carriers. The waterway is responsible for roughly 20% of the world’s daily crude oil and LNG supply.
The slowdown comes as attacks involving Iranian and US forces continue around the Gulf. The disruption is already affecting energy markets, with Brent crude climbing above $100 a barrel amid concerns that prolonged maritime insecurity could restrict global oil supplies.
Shipping companies and energy traders are therefore closely monitoring developments around the strait, as further disruption could have wider consequences for global trade and fuel prices.
