Hormuz Shipping Disruption Raises Oil Prices, WTI Lags Behind
Oil prices continued their upward trend on Tuesday, reaching new heights above $91 per barrel for Brent crude and nearing $87 for WTI. The latest escalation in tensions between the US and Iran has reignited concerns about a prolonged disruption to Gulf energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
The immediate concern is not Iranian production itself, but rather whether commercial shipping can move reliably through the strait. According to Kpler data, only five commodity vessels were recorded transiting the strait on Monday, well below the 10-day average of 14. No liquid tankers were observed in the tracked traffic.
Analysts warn that a prolonged supply disruption is possible, particularly if both sides appear to be preparing for a drawn-out confrontation rather than a quick diplomatic settlement. The market's sensitivity to tanker incidents, mine threats, or attacks on Gulf infrastructure is also heightened.