Commercial Vessel Traffic Through the Strait of Hormuz Falls to Its Lowest Level Since May

According to the latest maritime data, only three commercial cargo vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday - the lowest daily volume recorded since May. Several vessels were forced to suspend their voyages or turn back following new Iranian attacks and the United States' decision to reimpose a maritime blockade targeting vessels linked to Iran's shipping activities.

The latest developments underscore how escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran are disrupting traffic through Hormuz - the world's most critical maritime corridor for oil and natural gas exports - while adding further pressure to global energy markets.

Shipping Traffic Through Hormuz Drops Sharply

Data from Kpler, as of 05:13 GMT on Friday, showed that Miraan, a sanctioned petroleum products tanker, and Norita, an LPG carrier, exited the Strait of Hormuz via the Iranian shipping lane before stopping in the Gulf of Oman, where U.S. enforcement measures are currently affecting maritime traffic.

Meanwhile, LSEG data showed that Arolia, a bunker fuel supply vessel, turned back toward the Persian Gulf just hours after departing the Strait of Hormuz.

The previous day, only 11 vessel transits were recorded through the strait - well below the pre-conflict daily average of approximately 125 vessels.

Second Consecutive Day Without VLCC or LNG Transits

Notably, Thursday marked the second consecutive day without any Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) or LNG carriers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Automatic Identification System (AIS) data continued to show two VLCCs operating just outside the strait. Each vessel has a carrying capacity of approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil.

They include:

●    Colombia Prosperity, transporting Saudi Arabian crude oil to Okinawa, Japan.

●    Costa Rica Prosperity, carrying Iraq's Basra Medium crude on a voyage to Türkiye.

According to Kpler, both vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on July 13, while S&P Global Commodity Insights indicated that they did not fully clear the area until July 14.

Regional Risks Continue to Escalate

The conflict is now beginning to directly affect oil export operations across the region.

Four Iraqi energy and security sources told Reuters that Iraq temporarily suspended crude oil loading operations at the Port of Basra on Thursday after an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) struck an oil tanker. Export activities resumed only after the security situation had temporarily stabilized.

Meanwhile, according to Tasnim News Agency, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that it would not allow any oil or gas shipments to leave the Strait of Hormuz if U.S. airstrikes continue.

Reuters also reported that Tehran is considering encouraging the Houthi movement in Yemen to expand military pressure toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait - the strategic gateway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden - should Washington continue striking targets inside Iranian territory.

If that scenario materializes, the world's two most strategically important energy shipping corridors could face simultaneous disruptions, significantly increasing risks to global crude oil, LNG, and maritime supply chains.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Reuters)

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