On Thursday, shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz witnessed a significant drop as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran disrupted operations in one of the globe’s key energy trade channels. The day saw only three commodity vessels navigate the critical waterway, marking the lowest daily traffic since May. Heightened security concerns led to many ships either postponing their departures or reversing course amidst recent attacks on commercial vessels and rising military frictions in the region.
This marked reduction in shipping activity has sparked apprehensions about global energy supplies since the Strait of Hormuz is responsible for a large portion of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports. The interruptions have also been a factor in the increase of global oil prices. Some vessels that successfully traversed the strait later paused in the Gulf of Oman, while a fuel tanker, having briefly exited the waterway, turned back to the Persian Gulf.
Following an already sluggish Wednesday, when just 11 vessels passed through the strait against the typical daily average of about 125 ships, the traffic slowdown continued. For a second day in a row, there was a notable absence of large crude oil tankers and liquefied natural gas carriers. Despite the reduced activity, two very large crude carriers, each loaded with approximately two million barrels of oil, eventually reappeared outside the strait, continuing their journeys to destinations in Asia and Europe.
In a related development, Iraq temporarily halted oil loading operations at its Basra export terminal after a drone strike targeted an oil tanker, though operations resumed shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, Iran has issued warnings that oil and gas exports via the Strait of Hormuz could face ongoing disruptions if military tensions persist, fueling concerns about further volatility in global energy markets.