Hormuz traffic slows to multi-week low as renewed US-Iran strikes raise safety concerns
Six vessels transited the strategic waterway on Sunday, according to Kpler data, the lowest daily total in five weeks
The number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell to a five-week low on Sunday, ship-tracking data showed, as renewed US strikes on Iran and attacks on ships in the Middle East heightened safety concerns for commercial shipping.
Six vessels transited the strategic waterway on Sunday, according to Kpler data, the lowest daily total in five weeks.
Tankers exiting the strait included the Very Large Crude Carrier Humanity, carrying 2 million barrels of Iranian oil, and Capetan Andreas, transporting about 500,000 barrels of Kuwaiti oil products. Three empty tankers entered the Gulf to load crude, the data showed. Most of the vessels switched off their transponders while crossing the strait.
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No liquefied natural gas tankers entering the strait over the weekend were visible on ship-tracking data.
Kpler data also showed that one tanker controlled by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co exited the Strait of Hormuz between July 10 and July 12. The vessel is heading to Dahej port in India.
The decline in traffic came after US forces carried out another wave of strikes against Iran on Sunday.
"U.S. forces completed another wave of strikes against Iran on Sunday, hitting dozens of targets at multiple locations with precision munitions," the US Central Command said.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remained open to commercial traffic. Earlier, Iran said it had closed the strait after a vessel travelled on an unapproved route and was struck.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Monday that their navy stopped two ships in the Strait of Hormuz overnight by shutting down their systems. They did not identify the vessels involved.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important oil shipping routes, linking Gulf producers with international markets. Disruptions to traffic through the narrow waterway are closely monitored by energy markets because of its role in global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
