Hormuz vessel traffic falls to nine as crude flows reach 33.7 million barrels

On September 24, the number of commodity vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell to nine from 14 on September 23, Kpler data showed. Eight of the nine vessels exited the waterway.

The 10-day average for transits is 18, according to Kpler. However, an unknown number of ships sail through the waterway with their transponders turned off and are therefore not counted, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Despite the decline in vessel traffic, crude oil flows out of the Strait of Hormuz reached 33.7 million barrels in the week beginning September 20, preliminary Kpler data showed on September 25. The volume puts exports roughly on track with the previous week’s levels.

The traffic so far this week involved 19 tankers, including 17 very large crude carriers (VLCCs), which can each carry about 2 million barrels of oil. Most of the tankers were carrying crude from Saudi Arabia, followed by Iraq.

For the full previous week, 49.2 million barrels of crude were shipped out through Hormuz, according to Kpler.

On September 23, about 60 commercial vessels of all types transited the Strait of Hormuz, carrying the highest daily volume of crude oil since early July, a US official said on condition of anonymity.

Saudi Aramco has increased its exports through Hormuz after attacks on its East-West Pipeline earlier this month halted shipments from the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

Before the Iran war began on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz typically handled about 125 large commercial vessels a day, including tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and container ships, accounting for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

By Aghakazim Guliyev