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Strait of Hormuz Traffic Dwindles Amid Middle East Tensions
M
Moneycontrol•21-09-2026, 11:35
Strait of Hormuz Traffic Dwindles Amid Middle East Tensions
- •Only a dozen commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz last weekend, a significant drop from 35 the prior weekend, due to persistent US-Iran stalemate.
- •Visible traffic through the strait, a crucial conduit for global oil and LNG, has decreased, though Middle Eastern producers continue to export oil with transponders off.
- •Saudi Aramco has increased crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz this month and next, rerouting shipments after Houthi attacks on its East-West pipeline.
- •Saudi crude exports recovered to over 4 million bpd in September, up from 2.4 million bpd in August, with Saudi Arabia accounting for half of the 34 million barrels exiting the strait in mid-September.
- •Despite disruptions, Middle East oil flows remain strong, averaging 17.1 million bpd in the past 10 days, with Saudi oil moving through the strait averaging 2.9 million bpd recently.
Key Questions Answered
A dozen commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, which is down from 35 during the prior weekend.
Saudi Aramco increased its exports through the strait after Houthi attacks on its East-West pipeline forced the state energy firm to halt some shipments via Yanbu, recovering exports to over 4 million barrels per day in September.
Before the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, the strait typically handled about 125 large, commercial vessels per day.
