Strait of Hormuz Vessel Traffic Plummets Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions

The Strait of Hormuz has seen a significant decrease in vessel traffic due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. A total of 17 vessels transited the strait over the weekend, down from 37 a week earlier. This marks a substantial decline from the usual 125 large commercial vessels that passed through the strait daily before the US-Israeli war with Iran began.

The decrease in traffic is attributed to increased caution among shippers and the absence of transponders on some tankers. However, Middle Eastern producers continue to export oil, with Saudi Arabia and Iraq accounting for 43% of the volume carried by vessels exiting the strait over the week of September 13.

Despite this decrease in traffic, the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical conduit for global energy supplies. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea has also seen a decline in vessel traffic, with 51 vessels making the crossing and 33 exiting over the weekend.