Tensions in the Gulf persist as shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz drops sharply

1. According to data from maritime analytics company Kpler, as Middle East conflicts escalate once again, commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to decline. Vessel tracking shows that only four cargo ships passed through the strait in the past 24 hours, down significantly from ten the previous day and far below normal levels during peacetime.2. The latest data reveals that at least 436 vessels are currently waiting in anchorage areas around the Strait of Hormuz, as shipping companies postpone their voyages due to safety risks and uncertain navigation conditions. Maritime analysts noted that some vessels have switched off their automatic identification system transponders, so actual traffic might be slightly higher than publicly reported figures.3. The Strait of Hormuz typically handles about 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports, making it one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints. Since the escalation of the US-Iran conflict, traffic through the strait has declined sharply compared to pre-war levels, disrupting regional shipping and energy markets.4. The decline in shipping volume is a result of a series of attacks targeting merchant vessels, including mines and missile strikes, which have forced shipping companies to reroute or delay shipments. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts between Gulf Arab states and Iran regarding shipping arrangements through the strait have stalled due to heightened regional tensions.5. The oil market has responded to security risks, with Brent crude oil futures extending gains on Tuesday, currently trading near $107.50 per barrel, just below Monday's nearly two-month high of $109.72, as the market fears that ongoing instability in the Gulf could tighten global energy supplies.6. As strait traffic slows, tensions between the US and Iran over control and security of the strait remain high, and fighting between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi forces has spread across the Gulf and Red Sea regions.