Strait of Hormuz vessel traffic remains thin amid Middle East tensions

The Strait of Hormuz recorded a significantly reduced vessel traffic over the weekend in comparison to the previous weekend, with only 14 vessels transiting through, down from 36. Kpler data reveals that 11 vessels exited the strait, while 3 entered. Seven exiting vessels utilized the Iranian route. Some ships navigated the strait under cover of darkness or by disabling their transponders to evade detection.

A large gas carrier and a vessel carrying fertilizers left the strait on Saturday. Tensions between Iran and the US continue, with Iran's Parliament Speaker warning that the strait would stay closed until Tehran's conditions are met. Iran also reported receiving information about a possible US-led attack against Iran. The US Central Command reported assisting over 2,000 commercial ships through the strait, with over a billion barrels of crude exiting the Gulf in recent months.

Despite the reduced traffic, the strait remains a crucial route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, accounting for approximately 20% of the world's crude oil supply. However, the number of vessels crossing the strait has decreased due to ongoing attacks by Iranian forces. Separately, tensions between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels in Yemen have escalated, leading to a drop in Bab Al Mandeb traffic.

The port city of Mokha and other territories have been captured by Houthi rebels, granting them a strategic advantage in monitoring vessels passing through the Bab Al Mandeb strait.