Hormuz Shipping Traffic Plummets as Tensions Remain

A significant decrease in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been observed, with only seven commodity ships passing through on Thursday, according to data from shiptracker Kpler. This is a stark contrast to previous days, as just four ships entered and three exited the waterway, which is used by nearly a fifth of global shipments of crude oil and liquefied natural gas.

The Strait of Hormuz has been a major concern for international shipping due to tensions between Iran and the US, with war beginning in February. Despite this, one very large gas carrier did transit out of Hormuz via the Iranian route on Thursday, carrying propane and butane.

Separately, traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait slowed slightly on Thursday compared to the previous two days. A total of 23 commodity ships transited the Bab el-Mandeb, with 16 entering and seven exiting. However, no very large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers passed through the strait on Thursday.