Vessel Traffic Plummets in Strait of Hormuz After Attacks

Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to single-digit daily levels over the weekend, dropping well below the 10-day average of 14 vessels. Only four vessels exited the Gulf and ten entered, a sharp decline from the pre-war average of 125 large commercial vessels per day. This disruption follows a projectile strike on an unidentified vessel in the strait on Sunday.

Simultaneously, a drone attack originating from Iraq temporarily shut down the East-West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia, a critical bypass route for energy transportation. These security incidents occur alongside a blockade reimposed by the Federal government of the United States in mid-July, which has halted Iranian crude oil exports.

While the Strait of Hormuz typically handles 20% of global crude oil and LNG supplies and currently faces severe congestion and security risks, traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait has remained stable.