Strait of Hormuz Traffic Falls amid Escalating Attacks

Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz declined again earlier this week following an escalation of attacks in the Middle East, according to shipping data.

Preliminary data from Kpler on Tuesday show that four bulk carriers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, down from 10 the previous day. Two dry bulk carriers exited the waterway, while two oil tankers entered the strait.

The figures do not include vessels that may have transited the strait with their Automatic Identification System transponders turned off to avoid detection.

Before the start of the war with Iran on 28 February, approximately 125 large commercial vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day.

The Iranian news agency Fars reported on Monday, citing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, that an oil tanker exploded and caught fire after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz, though it did not specify when the incident occurred.

Also on Monday, Arab Gulf states postponed planned talks with Iran on possible agreements regarding the Strait of Hormuz, creating another obstacle to diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and limit its impact on global oil supplies.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni Houthis said they had launched dozens of missiles and drones at the Khamis Mushait military airbase in southern Saudi Arabia in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. They said the attack targeted aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways and ammunition depots.

Shipping traffic also declined in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where 21 commercial vessels passed through on Monday, down from 28 the previous day, according to Kpler.

(Reuters, im)