Hormuz traffic falls sharply, especially through UN-backed Omani route
Shipping traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply since Wednesday, especially via the UN-back Omani passageway, after the United States and Iran traded renewed strikes and vessels were attacked earlier in the week.
Although flows had reached their highest levels since the war began after a ceasefire was agreed between the two sides, the recovery appears to have stalled, with only six commodity tankers reportedly making it through the strait so far on Thursday and 21 vessels transiting on Wednesday, according to Kpler data reported by AFP.
The only day with less traffic since the US-Iran truce was signed was on 28 June, when just 19 ships crossed the day after a tanker was attacked off Oman.
Andrew Wilson, head of research at BRS shipbrokers, said in a webinar on Thursday that they expect only “ebbs and flows” of traffic getting through Hormuz “almost until the end of the year”.
“We’re certainly better than we were in March and April, but until we have some sort of substantial agreement… it’s just going to remain very, very volatile,” he added.
A cargo ship off coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, along the Gulf of Oman on 28 June 2026 (AFP)
