Strait of Hormuz vessel traffic remains thin amid Middle East tensions

The Strait of Hormuz witnessed a reduction in vessel traffic amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. According to preliminary data from Kpler, only 14 vessels transited the strait over the weekend, a significant decline from the 36 vessels that passed through the previous weekend. Eleven vessels exited the strait, while three entered.

Seven of the exiting vessels took the Iranian route. Some vessels used the dark or turned off their transponders to evade detection. A large gas carrier and a vessel carrying fertilizers transited the strait on Saturday. Tensions between the US and Iran continue, with Iran's Parliament Speaker warning that the strait would remain closed until Tehran's conditions are met.

Iran also claimed to have received information about the US resuming actions against the country, which would retaliate by attacking American bases. The US Central Command stated that it had assisted over 2,000 commercial ships transiting through the strait, with more than a billion barrels of crude leaving the Gulf in recent months.

Despite this, the number of ships crossing the strait has dropped significantly due to attacks on ships by Iranian forces. The Bab Al Mandeb traffic has also fallen as tensions flare up between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels after the latter took control of strategic locations along the western coast of the Red Sea. The port city of Mokha, Perim Island, and Dhubab were seized by Houthi rebels, giving them the ability to monitor vessels sailing through the Bab Al Mandeb strait.

Meanwhile, Brent oil is trading above $100 per barrel, and Houthi attacks on Saudi ships have supported prices. The Houthis have imposed a maritime embargo on Saudi vessels and have been attacking vessels passing through the strait, forcing the kingdom to divert crude cargo to the Suez Canal.