{
  "id": 1623261,
  "title": "Hormuz crossings edge up but remain in single digits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/hormuz-crossings-edge-up-but-remain-in-single-digits",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T03:20:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/08/18/hormuz-crossings-edge-up-but-remain-in-single-digits"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The number of large ships transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz has edged up to single digits, according to preliminary shipping data released on Tuesday. This increase was seen despite a stalemate in US and Iranian peace talks. Kpler shiptracking data showed only six commodity ships crossed the strait on Monday, with three vessels exiting the Gulf and three entering. The 10-day average of ship crossings before this latest data was 11. Over the weekend, three ships passed through the waterway on Saturday, and two on Sunday. Notably, there were no very large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers making the journey. Some vessels might be avoiding detection as their transponders were switched off, and these are not included in the tally. One very large gas carrier, the Xavia, did transit the strait under ballast, meaning it was empty of cargo. Additionally, a medium-range fuel tanker and an intermediate-range tanker entered the Gulf, while a medium-sized liquefied petroleum gas carrier, a Panamax bulk carrier, and a Panamax-sized fuel tanker exited the Gulf.",
  "summary": "Six commodity ships transited the strait on Monday, three in each direction, compared with a 10-day average of 11.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Hormuz crossings edge up but remain in single digits",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/hormuz-crossings-edge-up-but-remain-in-single-digits-1623912",
        "published": "2026-08-18T03:20:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}