Commodity ship traffic through Strait of Hormuz drops sharply

Seven commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, down sharply from 17 the day before and below the 10-day average of 15, according to preliminary shipping data released on Friday, August 28 and cited by Reuters.

Initial data from ship-tracking firm Kpler, available at 0315 GMT, showed that the seven vessels comprised two medium-range tankers, one very large gas carrier (VLGC), one Ultramax vessel, one intermediate tanker and two chemical tankers.

Four of the vessels were leaving the strait, including both chemical tankers, the medium-range tanker and the intermediate tanker. The VLGC, the Ultramax vessel and the second medium-range tanker were entering the waterway.

The figures remain preliminary and could be revised, as some vessels typically switch off their transponders while at sea.

The latest data comes as mediators seeking to end the Iran war place renewed emphasis on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route. Tehran has agreed to draw up a list of conditions for restoring normal traffic after a Qatari emissary urged Iranian authorities to respect freedom of navigation.

Earlier on Wednesday, a senior Iranian source said Iran and Oman were still working on the details of an agreement concerning the waterway. The comments followed a statement by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that the two countries had agreed on how to share control of the strait and its revenues.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. Disruptions to traffic through the waterway can have significant implications for global energy markets.

Meanwhile, shipping activity through another major Middle Eastern maritime chokepoint remained considerably higher. A total of 17 commodity vessels transited the Bab el-Mandeb on Thursday, with six vessels entering and 11 leaving the waterway.

By Tamilla Hasanova