Yesterday, the Strait of Hormuz witnessed only three cargo ships passing through, including a Panamax oil tanker. This statistic, according to preliminary tracking data from tankers, especially from Kpler, indicates a critical state of maritime traffic in the region.
Significant Decrease in Maritime Traffic
The traffic observed on Tuesday was markedly less than on Monday, when four ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, and it is also significantly below the 10-day average of about 15 ship passages. This situation has raised concerns about security and stability in the region.
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Factors Influencing Maritime Traffic
Rising tensions in the Middle East, including attacks on tankers and threats from Iranian-aligned Houthis in the Red Sea, have led to increased caution regarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, the temporary shutdown of the east-to-west land pipeline in Saudi Arabia has also impacted traffic. However, Saudi Arabia resumed minor services to this pipeline on Tuesday, allowing for a bypass of the Strait of Hormuz and the shipment of crude oil from the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
The traffic observed in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also appears relatively stable, with 22 cargo ships moving towards the Red Sea and vice versa. Over the past 10 days, an average of about 26 ships have passed daily between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
With ongoing security concerns, the daily traffic of cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz has recently dropped to single digits according to AIS positioning systems. The oil market is now awaiting diplomatic developments this week, as representatives from the United States and Iran are utilizing the United Nations General Assembly in New York for side discussions.
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