Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is gradually picking up after the US–Iran truce, but shippers remain cautious.
Commercial shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz is gradually recovering, though it remains well below normal levels following the recent US–Iran conflict.
MarineTraffic vessel data shows 34 ships passed through the strait on Tuesday, a modest rise from the near standstill seen during the height of hostilities. However, this is still far short of the pre-conflict average of about 100 daily crossings, highlighting continued caution among shipping companies, insurers, and energy traders.
The Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoint, handling around one-fifth of global petroleum flows — was effectively closed by Iran during the conflict, disrupting commercial shipping and driving up freight costs and energy prices.
Its reopening was included in the US–Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 17, which called for the immediate resumption of commercial navigation as part of broader de-escalation efforts.
The agreement stipulates that commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would “immediately start,” making the restoration of maritime trade a key benchmark for the ceasefire and the broader diplomatic process.
A closely watched indicator, industry analysts say that a sustained rise in vessel movements will signal whether shipping companies consider the security environment stable enough to return to normal operations.
Crude oil prices extended losses on Thursday morning (July 2, 2026, 8:12am Tokyo time), with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) falling to $68 per barrel, down $0.58 or 0.85%. Brent crude slipped to $71.119, down $1.38 or 2.51%, while Murban crude declined to $65.64, down $3.37 or 4.88%, according to OilPrice.com and Trading Economics data.
Although shipping traffic is steadily recovering, the latest vessel data indicates that the maritime corridor has yet to return to normal operations, reflecting persistent concerns over regional security despite ongoing Washington–Tehran negotiations.
Industry observers continue to monitor vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz using satellite-based tracking, mapping, and analytics, with shipping flows serving as a key indicator of the region’s economic recovery.
