WANA (Aug 07) – Recent data shows that shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dwindled to just 33 vessels between Monday and Thursday, down from 50 vessels during the same period last week.

 

According to energy analytics firm Kpler, only four vessels transited the strategic waterway on Thursday. These included the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Nissos Kea, carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Iraqi-loaded Basrah crude, along with two liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers and a small minor bulk carrier.

 

The figures highlight a significant drop in shipping activity compared to previous periods.

 

Kpler data further revealed that only six crude oil tankers exited the strait this week, while 21 vessels entered, mostly via the Iranian route.

 

The shift in shipping patterns reflects the heightened political and security environment across the region.

 

Typically, shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ranged between 130 and 140 vessels before Iran closed the waterway following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war on February 28. The closure led to severe disruptions in global oil supplies and triggered a sharp surge in energy prices.

 

In a separate development, Kpler data indicated that 26 vessels transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea on Thursday, up from 19 the previous day. However, LSEG counted 28 vessels over the same period using a different tracking system and methodology.