Shipping slows through Strait of Hormuz after tanker attacks, data shows

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped significantly over the weekend following attacks on tankers, according to data released on Monday. The weekend saw only five cargo vessels pass through the key waterway, compared to the 31 that typically use it during a standard weekend. The decline comes amid ongoing U.S.-Iranian negotiations aimed at resolving the Middle East conflict, which have thus far failed to make progress.

Notable among the limited traffic were a vacant Very Large Crude Carrier with its Automatic Identification System disabled and an Indian-flagged Very Large Gas Carrier that utilized the Iranian route. One small tanker carrying Iranian fuel oil also exited the strait, as reported by Kpler data tracking systems.

The disruption was triggered after the United Arab Emirates reported that three vessels belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company had been attacked while en route. The United States has stated its intention to maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, further complicating the situation.

While some ships may still manage to navigate the strait undetected with transponders turned off, the current figures are far below the pre-war average of over 130 vessels passing through daily. The Strait of Hormuz, which handles a fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the war, now faces significant challenges in facilitating global trade.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi of Iran suggested on Saturday that Washington would need to meet Iran's conditions regarding the strait before shipping traffic could resume. Meanwhile, the Bab el-Mandeb strait, where Yemeni Houthis have imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia since July 20, saw 49 transits by cargo vessels over the weekend, down from 55 the previous week. Notably, there were no recorded Saudi oil shipments in this period.