Hormuz Blockades Choke Traffic to Below Pre-Conflict Levels
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor, saw fewer than 20 commodity vessels transit over the weekend, according to shipping data. The figures show that four vessels crossed on Sunday and thirteen on Saturday, indicating suppressed traffic volumes. Vessels had either aborted their plans or switched routes after attacks occurred, causing a decline in traffic since the June peak.
The overall traffic remained well below normal levels, with AIS-detected transits approximately 90% below pre-conflict baselines. Tankers dominated movement through the chokepoint, accounting for 45% of total traffic, with 56% carrying crude oil or oil products. LPG carriers made up a further 24%. Since July 6, there have been 23 incidents of projectile strikes on vessels in the strait and its vicinity.
The UKMTO agency reported that 89 vessels exited the strait while 103 entered over the seven-day period. Two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) entered the Gulf with their tracking devices switched off, one bound for Iraq, the other for Bahrain. A VLCC carrying 2 million barrels of Emirati crude had exited the strait on Thursday.