Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz Slows Sharply

Shipping traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz slowed significantly on Thursday. According to data from Kpler, only seven cargo ships carrying commodities passed through the waterway, half the number recorded the previous day. Four vessels entered the strait and three left it.

None were very large oil tankers or liquefied natural gas carriers. However, one large tanker carrying propane and butane sailed out of the strait using the Iranian route.

The slowdown comes as concerns persist over the safety of shipping in the Middle East, with peace talks between the US and Iran remaining uncertain. Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has also declined.

On Thursday, 23 cargo ships passed through Bab el-Mandeb, down from 34 on each of the previous two days. The figures do not include vessels sailing with their transponders switched off.

(Reuters, mja)