Commercial Traffic in Hormuz Strait at 20% of Pre-War Levels: UKMTO
London, August 22: The commercial traffic in the strategically vital Hormuz Strait has not seen significant growth, according to a report from the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The daily movement of vessels through the Strait remains in single digits, primarily due to Iranian military activities and serious maritime security risks. Several ships have been targeted in attacks over the past few months.
According to UKMTO, 103 vessels entered the Hormuz Strait in the past week, while 89 exited. However, this total movement in both directions is only about 20% of the seven-day average before the conflict began, indicating that commercial activities in this crucial maritime route for global energy supply are still far from normal.
The report highlights that activities by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pose significant risks to vessels. These include drone surveillance flights, radio contact with ships, and threats in areas where naval mines are suspected.
In the limited commercial movement in Hormuz, tankers carrying oil and other liquid fuels account for the largest share at 45%, underscoring the importance of this waterway in the global energy supply network.
The Hormuz Strait is a critical route for the world’s oil and gas trade. Prolonged disruptions here could increase pressure on energy markets, oil prices, and the global supply chain.
UKMTO data indicates that the southern Omani route of the Strait is considered particularly risky, with 16 out of 18 projectile attacks recorded since July 6 occurring in this area. Consequently, ship operators are exercising caution when navigating this route due to security risks.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
