Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz Has Not Improved, Only Iran-Linked Ships Are Passing

Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained congested on Thursday as well. The vessels able to transit the strait were limited to just a handful of ships that had called at Iranian ports or were carrying Iranian cargo. This situation is interpreted as an indication that the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has not yet improved flows through the world's most critical energy chokepoint. According to data, only seven ships exiting the Persian Gulf and passing through the strait were recorded on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Under normal conditions, the daily number of transits in both directions hovers around 135. Michelle Brouhard, Head of Policy and Geopolitical Risk at Kpler, assessed the forward-looking implications of these developments for oil markets. The expert highlighted the impacts of this severe restriction in traffic flow on energy supply security and global oil trade. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway where approximately one-fifth of the world's oil trade takes place. This marked decline in transits has once again demonstrated how tensions in the region can affect commercial activities. Market participants are monitoring the uncertainty over when normal traffic flow through the strait might be restored. Not investment advice.