Shipping Traffic Steady Amid Ongoing US-Iran Uncertainty
Shipping traffic at key Middle Eastern maritime chokepoints remained steady on August 5, despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding peace talks between the US and Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz saw eight vessels transit, including five tankers and three bulk carriers, with six entering and two exiting, according to Kpler data. This is down from the usual 130-140 ships that transited before the war with Iran began on February 28.
A liquefied natural gas tanker controlled by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co reappeared outside the Strait of Hormuz on August 5, carrying a cargo loaded from Das Island. The tanker Mubaraz has exited the strait three times since the war began, delivering two cargoes to China and one to India.
In the Bab el-Mandeb, 20 vessels crossed the waterway on August 5, with 10 entering and 10 exiting, as reported by Kpler. The Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb are critical waterways for global trade, particularly for oil shipments.