Hormuz on the Brink of Explosion... Decline in Ship Transit Opens the Door to a Global Energy Crisis

The Strait of Hormuz saw a marked decline in ship traffic on the first day after the United States reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports, as military operations between Washington and Tehran escalated in the Gulf region, according to data cited by Sky News.

Data from Kpler, the platform specializing in tracking maritime shipping traffic, showed that the number of vessels passing through the strait yesterday fell to just seven, most of them via the Iranian side, compared with 13 ships the previous day.

The decline came after Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday evening, heightening concerns over navigation through this strategic passage, which had ensured the transit of about 20% of global oil and gas supplies before the outbreak of the confrontations.

According to Kpler data, four empty vessels entered the Gulf region yesterday, including three small oil tankers and a grain carrier, while three ships left the strait carrying liquefied petroleum gas, coal, and fuel oil.

In a notable development, the data indicated that a Suezmax oil tanker carrying about one million barrels of Saudi crude left the strait on Tuesday after disabling its transmitter and receiver, while no movement was recorded yesterday for very large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers.

The decline in maritime traffic through Hormuz is raising growing concerns about the repercussions of the military escalation on global energy markets and supply chains, given the strait’s importance as one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors.