Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained sharply subdued over the weekend, with vessel movements continuing to fall amid heightened security concerns and renewed uncertainty over regional tensions.
Data from S&P Global MINT and S&P Global Commodities at Sea showed just 17 observable transits through the strategic waterway on August 2, following 15 crossings on August 1 and 17 on July 31. Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also weakened, with fewer than 40 observable transits recorded per day during the same three-day period.
A total of 848 vessel transits were recorded through the Strait of Hormuz in July, averaging 27 crossings per day. However, activity slowed significantly in the second half of the month, when daily traffic fell to an average of 17 transits as the memorandum of understanding underpinning a peace agreement collapsed and the US and Iran escalated retaliatory strikes.
July traffic fell from June’s 917 transits, the highest monthly total since the start of the conflict. Inbound vessels accounted for 48% of total crossings in July, up from 46% in June, while Iran-linked vessels increased to 53% of total traffic, compared with an average of 42% in June.
The slowdown persisted despite US President Donald Trump’s statement that a deal was “imminent” amid renewed diplomatic efforts, along with reports that Oman and Iran had agreed to jointly manage traffic through the strait.
Security threats remained elevated, with the UK Maritime Trade Operations center reporting three incidents in recent days. One involved the LNG carrier GASLOG SHANGHAI, which was struck by an unknown projectile that damaged its engine room 11 nautical miles off Lima, Oman. A second incident was reported 21 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, after a vessel’s master reported a large splash and explosion nearby. Both incidents occurred late on July 31.
The latest incident was reported on August 2, when a tanker’s master reported hearing an explosion close to the vessel, 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab.
GASLOG SHANGHAI was hit while sailing outbound through the Strait of Hormuz after loading at Ras Laffan on July 28.
Among other significant vessel movements, the VLCC KIKU remained active in the region after previously being targeted in an attack off Oman on July 27. The vessel loaded a split cargo of Dukhan (Qatar Land) and Qatar Marine in late July and is currently anchored off Fujairah. Its outbound transit through the strait on August 1 was not visible.
The VLCC ROTTERDAM ENERGY also exited the strait on August 1 after loading UAE crude around July 29.
The Hong Kong, China-flagged VLCC NOBLE, carrying 2 million barrels of Basrah Heavy, exited through Iranian territorial waters with its transponder active on July 31. The Suezmax tanker LUCIA A followed on August 1 with 1 million barrels of Basrah Medium. Meanwhile, the Kyklades Maritime-owned VLCC NISSOS HERACLEA moved inbound on July 31 for loading at Iraq’s Basrah terminal.
Ten crude tankers carrying Iraqi crude successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz in July, transporting a combined 648,000 barrels per day — down 27% from 883,000 barrels per day in June, according to Commodities at Sea data.
Separately, the LR2 tanker SINBAD entered the Middle East Gulf on August 1 for the first time in a year and is heading to Jubail, likely for a refined products loading.
Traffic through the US Naval blockade remained relatively steady. An average of 41 vessels per day crossed the blockade in the week ending August 2, slightly below the previous week’s 46 per day.
However, only a small number of non-compliant vessels — defined as vessels under US OFAC sanctions, carrying Iranian or false flag status, or having called at an Iranian port in 2026 — have breached the blockade since its reinstatement on July 14. The weekly average remained unchanged at two non-compliant vessels per day.
Four oil and LPG tanker breaches were recorded over the past three days. OFAC-sanctioned crude tanker RIESCO successfully crossed inbound on August 1, while false flag tankers MURLIKISHAN and BERBERA STAR 7 entered on July 31. All three vessels were last observed near the Khor Fakkan anchorage.
Small gas carrier SIFRA, operating under a Botswana false flag, also successfully crossed the blockade on July 30.
Meanwhile, traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait totaled 1,298 crossings in July, averaging 42 vessels per day, largely unchanged from June’s 43. Recent activity remained weaker, with 32 transits recorded on August 2, 30 on August 1 and 38 on July 31.
Northbound traffic was particularly weak, falling to just 10 vessels on August 2 — the lowest daily level since May 26. The decline could indicate reduced vessel movements or increased AIS-dark activity as security concerns continue to weigh on shipping routes.
