Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz declined significantly over the weekend of August 15-16, according to commodity tracking data reported Monday. The slowdown followed reports of attacks on commercial tankers and occurred as diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran to resolve regional conflict reached a standstill.
The reduction in maritime activity follows an announcement last week by the United Arab Emirates that three vessels operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) were attacked while in transit. Before the conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran began in February, the waterway typically saw more than 130 ships per day.
Ship-tracking data from Kpler showed that only five commodity vessels transited the strait on Saturday, with no vessels registered for Sunday. This compares to 31 transits recorded during the previous weekend. Those that did pass on Saturday included an empty Very Large Crude Carrier with its identification system deactivated and an Indian-flagged gas carrier using the Iranian route. A small tanker carrying Iranian fuel oil also exited the waterway.
Energy markets and logistics firms are navigating dual disruptions. In addition to the Hormuz slowdown, shipping at the Bab el-Mandeb strait has also decreased to 49 weekend transits from 55 the week prior, following a naval blockade declared by Yemeni Houthis against Saudi Arabia on July 20. These combined maritime restrictions affect the flow of energy to international markets, which could lead to increased costs for fuel and raw materials for households and small businesses worldwide if the delays persist.
The situation remains tied to ongoing geopolitical friction. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on Saturday that shipping would only resume if the United States met Iran's specific conditions regarding the strait. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has stated it has the capacity to maintain a naval blockade of Iran for an indefinite period. No specific dates for the resumption of talks or the lifting of the blockades have been reported, as U.S.-Iran negotiations currently remain stalled.