Hormuz Shipping Traffic Falls to Seven Vessels as US-Iran Talks Remain Stalled
August 21, 2026
Singapore —
Commercial shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz has fallen to an unusually low level, with only seven commodity vessels recorded crossing the waterway on Thursday as uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-Iran conflict continued to weigh on maritime traffic.
Data compiled by ship-tracking company Kpler showed that Thursday’s total was only half the 14 commodity vessels recorded a day earlier. Four vessels entered the waterway while three exited it.
The sharp decline highlights the continuing risks facing international shipping as efforts to resolve the U.S.-Iran conflict remain stalled.
No major crude or LNG carriers
The latest figures are particularly significant because none of the seven recorded vessels were very large crude-oil carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers.
One very large gas carrier carrying propane and butane did leave the Strait of Hormuz through the Iranian route, according to the shipping data.
The absence of the largest energy carriers underscores the difficulties facing global energy transportation through the waterway.
A crucial route for global energy
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Before the conflict began in February, nearly one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the waterway.
Any prolonged reduction in traffic can therefore have consequences far beyond the Middle East, particularly for countries that depend heavily on Gulf energy supplies.
The latest decline has increased concerns among traders and shipping companies about the reliability of the route.
Peace talks remain uncertain
The reduction in shipping activity comes as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran remain in limbo.
The lack of progress has made shipping companies more cautious about sending vessels through the area, where security risks remain elevated. The uncertainty has also complicated efforts by energy companies to maintain normal export and import schedules.
For international shipping operators, the question is not simply whether the waterway is technically navigable, but whether vessels can travel through it without unacceptable security and financial risks.
Ships are avoiding the biggest risks
The shipping data does not necessarily capture every vessel using the waterway. Ships travelling with their transponders switched off are excluded from the Kpler figures.
That means the actual number of vessels moving through the region could be higher than the publicly tracked total. Nevertheless, the available data provides a clear indication that normal commercial traffic remains severely disrupted.
Bab el-Mandeb traffic also declines
The slowdown is not limited to Hormuz.
Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also decreased on Thursday. Kpler recorded 23 commodity vessels using the waterway, compared with 34 on each of the previous two days.
Sixteen vessels entered while seven exited. Two of the vessels leaving were Suezmax crude tankers carrying oil toward Vietnam and India. No very large crude carriers or LNG tankers were recorded passing through Bab el-Mandeb on Thursday.
The simultaneous weakness in traffic at two major maritime chokepoints adds to concerns over the broader impact of the regional conflict on international trade.
Oil markets remain under pressure
Shipping disruption has also contributed to concerns about global oil supplies.
Reuters reported on Friday that Brent crude was trading around $93.44 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate was around $86.76. Both benchmarks had gained more than 7% and 8%, respectively, over the previous week.
Higher energy prices can increase transportation costs and put additional pressure on economies that rely heavily on imported fuel.
China changes its shipping strategy
China’s major state-owned shipping companies have also been adjusting their operations because of the security risks.
COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation and China Merchants Energy Shipping have stopped using major Middle Eastern maritime chokepoints and have instead shifted some oil movements to ship-to-ship transfers outside the Gulf.
The change illustrates how companies are attempting to keep energy supplies moving while minimizing exposure to dangerous routes.
The road ahead
The future of commercial shipping through Hormuz will depend heavily on developments in the U.S.-Iran confrontation.
A successful diplomatic agreement could encourage shipping companies to gradually restore normal operations. Continued tensions, however, could keep traffic at very low levels and increase pressure on global energy markets.
For now, the passage of just seven commodity vessels in a single day is a powerful indication of how far maritime traffic through one of the world’s most important energy corridors has fallen from normal levels.
