Strait of Hormuz Tanker Traffic Plummets to Two-Month Low Amid U.S.-Iran Hostilities

The volume of oil and gas tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint, fell to a two-month low on Monday following renewed military strikes between the United States and Iran that have significantly heightened risks for commercial vessels.

Traffic Declines Amid Escalating Risks

Shipping data showed that tanker traffic through the waterway dropped to its lowest point since May 25, according to analysis from the data intelligence firm Kpler. The slowdown reflects growing caution among ship operators after a recent series of attacks on vessels in the region.

On Sunday, only six vessels were recorded transiting the strait, the lowest number in five weeks, Kpler data showed. The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) confirmed in a Sunday advisory that commercial traffic "continued at reduced levels," noting that the patterns reflected "operator caution following recent attacks." The JMIC also reported that a container ship sustained damage from an unknown projectile on Sunday, causing a fire in its engine room.

Market Impact and Evasive Maneuvers

In response to the danger, shipping operators are adopting alternative tactics. Industry sources report that vessels are increasingly switching off their public AIS tracking transponders to obscure their positions, making a complete count of transits difficult. Additionally, satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters revealed at least three pairs of tankers conducting ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the Gulf of Oman, a strategy that allows cargo to be moved without passing through the strait.

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The disruption poses a significant threat to global energy markets. "Should the renewed escalation in the strait lead to another prolonged closure of Hormuz, the world will find itself in a much tougher spot," ship broker Gibson stated in a report. The firm warned that with global inventories already depleted, a sustained closure is "a recipe for much tighter supply, higher prices and significant downside risk for tanker markets."

Conflicting Claims as Strikes Continue

The drop in traffic coincides with escalating military action. U.S. Central Command confirmed it completed another wave of strikes against Iranian targets on Sunday. The operational status of the strait is now a point of contention, creating further uncertainty for the shipping industry.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial traffic. However, Iran had previously declared the strait closed. On Monday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed its navy had stopped two ships in the waterway by disabling their systems, without providing further details.