On August 24, the Strait of Hormuz saw the transit of just two tankers, marking the lowest daily traffic of commodity vessels since early May. This included one very large gas carrier and one very large crude carrier, which starkly contrasted with the 10-day average of 14 vessels reported by freight intelligence service Kpler. However, Kpler noted that its data might not be fully accurate, as some ships have been navigating the strait with their tracking systems disabled.
Cargo tracking service Vortexa reported that oil flows through the strait amounted to approximately 5 million barrels on the same day, a decline from the seven-day average of 6-7 million barrels. Even at this average, shipping activity remains significantly below the pre-conflict levels, which exceeded 20 million barrels per day. Tensions have escalated recently, as Iran has implemented stricter measures, blacklisting 45 tankers for breaches of its passage regulations.
These blacklisted vessels may face detention, fines, or cargo confiscation. The specific violations leading to their designation remain unclear, though Tehran has previously emphasized that ship owners must secure the necessary clearance before navigating approved routes through the strait.
