DUBAI: Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell further at the start of the week as heightened security concerns and intensifying attacks in the region disrupted commercial movement through the strategic waterway.
Preliminary data from shipping intelligence firm Kpler showed that only four commodity vessels transited the strait on Monday, September 14, compared with 10 recorded the previous day.
Two dry bulk carriers exited the waterway, including one carrying cargo and another travelling in ballast, while two oil tankers entered the strait, both also in ballast.
Traffic Plummets
The latest figures represent a sharp decline from normal traffic levels.
Before the US-Iran conflict began on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz typically handled about 125 large commercial vessels each day, including oil tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and container ships.
The waterway is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying around 20% of global daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
The latest Kpler figures may not capture every vessel using the route, as some ships could have switched off their Automatic Identification System transponders to avoid detection.
Growing Security Risks
The decline comes amid heightened military activity and growing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in and around the strait.
Iranian news agency Fars reported on Monday, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, that an oil tanker had exploded and caught fire after colliding with mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The report did not specify when the incident occurred.
The reported incident has added to concerns among shipping operators about navigating the waterway while military tensions remain high.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it a critical route for global energy supplies.
Any sustained disruption to shipping through the strait could affect oil and gas flows and increase pressure on international energy markets.
For now, the sharp reduction in vessel movements underlines the growing risks facing commercial shipping as uncertainty over security conditions in the waterway persists.
