Transits Through Strait of Hormuz Hit Lowest Level in Two Months

Shipping data revealed that the number of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz fell to its lowest level in more than two months, after attacks on oil tankers traversing this vital waterway reached their highest point last week since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran.

According to data released by analytics firm Kpler, only seven cargo ships crossed the strait on Tuesday, the lowest count since July 23.

Kpler analysts Emmanuel Belostrino and Yoyo Torikata wrote in a note issued on October 6: "Crude oil volumes transiting the strait fell by 27% from their wartime peak in the previous week, reaching no less than 10.1 million barrels per day."

They added, "This represents a return to September's average, but it accounts for 74 percent of pre-war levels."

They explained that most of this decline occurred in ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman, where cargoes are moved between tankers.

However, exports from the Gulf of Oman coast and the Red Sea rose to 6.7 million barrels per day, more than double pre-war levels, according to the analysts, offsetting the supply deficit from the Strait of Hormuz.

They added that this helped maintain total Middle Eastern crude oil exports at pre-war levels.

Data showed that the number of vessels crossing the strait increased slightly to ten on Wednesday, but remained far below the daily count that exceeded twenty ships on Sunday and Monday.

The number of vessels entering the strait surpassed those exiting over the past two days.

These figures do not include vessels crossing the strait with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders turned off to avoid detection.

Data from London Stock Exchange Group regarding total vessels crossing the strait indicated the number stood at eight on Tuesday, split evenly between inbound and outbound traffic, down from fourteen the previous day.

LSEG added that among these vessels were five oil tankers and one liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier loaded in Ras Laffan, Qatar, which was scheduled to head to Port Qasim in Pakistan.

Attacks on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest level last week since the start of the Iran war, according to specialized maritime security sources monitoring incidents, as Gulf producing nations intensified their export efforts.

In the latest incident, the UK Maritime Operations Center reported on Wednesday that projectiles struck a tanker 51 nautical miles north of Al-Shamal, Qatar, with reports of injuries.

Before the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28, approximately 125 large commercial vessels passed through the strait daily, including oil tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers, and container ships.

Their shipments represented one-fifth of global supplies of crude oil and liquefied natural gas.