Renewed US-Iran clashes disrupt vital oil corridor, rattling global shipping markets.
Marine tracking firms have reported a steep decline in commercial shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring rising concerns among shipowners and insurers after renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran put pressure on one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
According to maritime intelligence companies cited by The Wall Street Journal, vessel traffic through the narrow waterway has dropped significantly below recent levels following the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire.
Data from maritime intelligence firms Kpler and Windward showed that vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to around 25 transits, compared with the 30 to 50 crossings recorded during the partial recovery seen in recent weeks.
Reuters reported that at one point on Thursday, only two vessels were observed passing through the Strait of Hormuz: the Iranian crude supertanker Berg 1 and the chemical tanker Well Sail.
The sharp decline in traffic followed renewed US airstrikes on Iranian military targets and retaliatory actions by Iran, including attacks targeting commercial shipping and US military facilities in the Gulf.
Several vessels have also reportedly switched off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders — a practice known as “going dark” — making it increasingly difficult to assess the actual scale of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The move has added to uncertainty among shipping operators and insurers, who are closely monitoring vessel movements amid heightened regional tensions.
Actual vessel movement may be ‘understated’
Maritime analysts have warned that publicly available tracking data may not fully reflect the true level of vessel activity, as some ships continue to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without broadcasting their positions.
The latest disruption marks a reversal of the gradual recovery seen after the June ceasefire agreement, when commercial shipping activity had started to return to the key waterway.
Before the renewed hostilities, tracking firms had reported a gradual increase in vessel crossings from the extremely low levels seen during the peak of the conflict. However, traffic remained far below normal conditions, when around 120 to 140 commercial vessels typically pass through the Strait each day.
Shipping risks have escalated after several commercial vessels were attacked earlier this week, leading some marine insurers to advise shipowners to delay voyages or reassess coverage before entering the Gulf region.
While no official closure of the Strait has been announced, maritime security experts said the combination of missile attacks, drone threats and rising war-risk insurance premiums has made many operators hesitant to use the vital waterway until conditions improve.
Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz would “re-open” on Iran’s own terms.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important energy routes, handling around 20% of global oil consumption and a major share of liquefied natural gas exports from Gulf producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar.
Any prolonged disruption to traffic through the waterway could delay energy shipments, drive up freight and insurance costs, and add further upward pressure on global oil and gas prices.
