Hormuz shipping traffic shrinks as regional attacks escalate
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply at the start of the week, with only four commodity vessels recorded transiting the strategic waterway on Monday as attacks across the Middle East intensified. Preliminary ship-tracking data from Kpler showed the Monday total was down from 10 vessels on Sunday, extending a prolonged decline in commercial traffic through a…
Dubai's data reveals a significant drop in maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the week as attacks across the Middle East escalate. Only four cargo ships transited the critical waterway on Monday, down from 10 on Sunday, indicating a worrying trend in commercial shipping. Two dry-bulk carriers and two oil tankers entered the strait, both without cargo, while two vessels exited.
The figures do not account for ships that may have crossed with their Automatic Identification System transponders off, a common practice in risky waters to maintain anonymity. This decline in traffic follows heightened maritime insecurity, with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming an oil tanker exploded and caught fire after colliding with mines in the Strait of Hormuz, though the incident remains unverified.
Diplomatic attempts to ease tensions around the waterway also hit a snag when Gulf Arab states delayed planned discussions with Iran on possible arrangements for the strait. Pressure on regional shipping routes extends to Bab el-Mandeb, where 21 cargo vessels passed through on Monday, a decline from 28 the previous day, amid Houthi missile and drone strikes on Saudi military targets.
This worsening security situation comes after daily transit numbers dwindled to single digits last week, with only seven vessels crossing on Thursday, far below the 10-day average of 15 prior to the conflict. Before Iran's February 28 conflict, the Strait of Hormuz typically accommodated about 125 large commercial vessels daily, including oil tankers, gas carriers, bulkers, and container ships, handling roughly one-fifth of the world's daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply.
The recent pipeline closure by Saudi Arabia, blamed on drones from Iran-backed militias in Iraq, has further tightened supply prospects, with oil markets responding positively to the news, with Brent crude futures up 1.3% to $107.05 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate gaining 1.51% to $102.92.
Written by urgent.news from Arabian Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
