S&P Global Reports Stable Traffic in Key Middle East Straits

Vessel traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz remained broadly stable on July 27, according to a report by S&P Global. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait recorded 32 crossings, which is roughly three-quarters of the average daily volume observed between June and early July. This traffic consisted of northbound vessels bound for Jordan or the Suez Canal in Egypt, as well as southbound vessels traveling toward the Gulf of Aden and Djibouti, including six tankers transporting Russian oil.

At the Strait of Hormuz, 15 transits were recorded, though five of these vessels were not transmitting automatic identification system signals. Despite the stability in transit volume, the report highlighted a sharp rise in Iranian crude oil held aboard tankers in the Middle East Gulf. This volume increased from under 30 million barrels in mid-July to an estimated 47 million barrels, even as tanker visibility remained limited.