Strait of Hormuz traffic collapses 90% after Iran announces closure
Visible ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped by over 90 percent following Iran's announcement that the waterway is closed.
Visible commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed, falling to just five ships per day over the weekend — a decline of more than 90 percent from pre-conflict averages, according to energy analytics firm Kpler.
All observed transits were small vessels, including two liquefied petroleum gas carriers. Analysts caution that the actual number of ships may be higher, as some operators are believed to have switched off their automatic identification systems to reduce the risk of being targeted.
The sharp drop follows a statement by Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, who said on Saturday that the strait has been completely shut down. He added that any vessel wishing to pass through must now coordinate with and obtain permission from the Iranian side.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, previously handling roughly one-fifth of global crude oil and refined product shipments, along with significant volumes of liquefied natural gas. Passage through the strait has been intermittent in recent weeks amid heightened volatility in the Middle East.