Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped sharply on Wednesday, with preliminary ship-tracking data showing only three transits, compared with 12 a day earlier and a 10-day average of around 17.
The figures, reported on Thursday, cover identifiable movements through the strategic waterway and exclude vessels that may have passed with their Automatic Identification System transponders switched off.
Context: Strait of Hormuz shipping guide · Strait of Hormuz
Kpler shipping data at 0445 GMT showed that an empty Supramax dry bulk vessel entered the strait through the Iranian route. An empty petroleum product tanker also entered using what was described as a dark route, while a Panamax tanker exited the waterway through a dark route.
The decline in traffic came as conflict in the Gulf intensified. Saudi Arabian warplanes struck Yemen, while Houthi fighters launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities.
The Iran-backed Houthis’ advance in Yemen along the Red Sea coast, combined with attacks on Saudi Arabia and damage to the kingdom’s East-West oil pipeline, has increased concern over risks to global oil supplies.
Traffic also moderated at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. Vessel crossings there totalled 21 on Wednesday, down from 24 the previous day.
The Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb are key maritime passages for commodity and energy flows. The latest tracking figures indicate a marked reduction in visible vessel movements through Hormuz during the period covered, although the reported data do not account for ships operating without AIS transmissions.