Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined
According to data released on Monday by Kpler, a maritime data analytics company, daily vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz declined for three consecutive days starting Friday. When two key maritime chokepoints – the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el Mandeb – simultaneously begin to tighten like a noose, the world is reminded of the fragility of global supply chains. The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a third of all seaborne oil passes, has never been just a geographical point on the map – it is an artery on whose pulse the economies of entire continents depend.
The drop in traffic to just nine vessels a day, when dozens used to pass here just a week ago, is not just statistics; it is a warning signal that forces carriers, insurers and traders to recalculate risks. And while politicians exchange statements, shipowners are already seriously considering alternative routes, adding thousands of miles and millions of dollars to the cost of every voyage.
According to Kpler, 23 vessels passed through the key waterway on Friday, 11 on Saturday and only nine on Sunday. The data showed that of the nine vessels that transited the strait on Sunday, seven used the Iranian route. Meanwhile, the Bab el Mandeb Strait, the southern entrance to the Red Sea, recorded 30 vessel transits on Sunday: 20 vessels left the Red Sea and 10 entered it.
According to Kpler, the number of vessels transiting with their automatic identification systems switched off fell to one. Kpler warned that until clear navigation agreements are reached between the interested parties, shipping operators should continue to view the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el Mandeb Strait as contested chokepoints rather than normalised shipping lanes.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important waterways, through which about 20% of global oil and roughly one third of all seaborne liquefied natural gas pass. Any disruption to shipping in the region is immediately reflected in global energy prices. The Bab el Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, is another chokepoint through which vessels pass en route to and from the Suez Canal.
The simultaneous decline in activity in both straits creates a double blow to logistics, forcing companies to reconsider their routes and insurance premiums. Analysts note that if the situation persists, the rise in freight and insurance costs could exceed 20%, inevitably hitting final consumer prices.
As CCTV+ reports, while diplomatic efforts to de escalate the situation continue, shipping companies are preparing for a prolonged period of uncertainty, and the coming weeks will show whether international trade can stay afloat or whether the global economy will face a new logistics crisis.
