Shipping – Gulf Maritime Traffic Remains Weak Amid Continuing Regional Security Concerns
Shipping –Vessel traffic through one of the world’s most important shipping corridors remained below normal levels over the weekend despite renewed diplomatic engagement aimed at easing tensions across the Gulf region.
According to a recent S&P Global report, shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz showed little sign of recovery, with security concerns continuing to affect commercial navigation. Data showed that 17 vessels crossed the waterway on August 2, while 15 transits were recorded on August 1. A similar figure of 17 crossings was reported on July 31. At the same time, vessel movement through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also softened, with daily observable traffic slipping below 40 crossings.
July Records Show Noticeable Slowdown
The report revealed that 848 vessel transits were registered through the Strait of Hormuz during July, averaging around 27 crossings each day. However, the pace of shipping declined considerably during the latter half of the month. Daily vessel movements dropped to an average of 17 after the collapse of the memorandum of understanding that had supported peace efforts, followed by renewed retaliatory actions involving the United States and Iran.
Despite diplomatic signals suggesting progress, shipping companies remained cautious. The report noted that comments by US President Donald Trump indicating that an agreement was close, along with reports that Oman and Iran had discussed jointly managing navigation through the strait, did not lead to an immediate improvement in vessel traffic.
Monthly Transit Numbers Decline From June Peak
Shipping volumes during July were lower than those recorded in June, when 917 vessel transits were logged through the Strait of Hormuz, making it the busiest month since the regional conflict began. The report also highlighted a slight shift in traffic composition. Inbound voyages represented 48 percent of total crossings in July, compared with 46 percent in June.
Meanwhile, vessels linked to Iran accounted for 53 percent of total traffic during July, marking a notable increase from the average share of 42 percent recorded in the previous month.
Crude Oil Exports Continue Under Security Pressure
The report also pointed to continuing challenges for oil transportation. Based on S&P Global Commodities at Sea data, 10 crude oil tankers carrying Iraqi exports successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz during July. Combined shipments averaged around 648,000 barrels per day, representing a 27 percent decline compared with approximately 883,000 barrels per day recorded in June.
The figures suggest that regional security concerns continue to influence energy exports, even as commercial shipping remains operational across key maritime routes.
US Naval Blockade Activity Largely Stable
While traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained subdued, movement across the US naval blockade showed relatively limited changes. The report stated that an average of 41 vessels crossed the blockade each day during the week ending August 2, slightly below the previous week’s average of 46 daily crossings.
Only around two vessels per day that were considered non-compliant were reported to have crossed the blockade during the same period, indicating that overall enforcement conditions remained largely unchanged.
Bab el-Mandeb Traffic Shows Fresh Weakness
Shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait totalled 1,298 vessel transits during July, averaging approximately 42 crossings each day, a figure broadly consistent with June levels. However, recent data indicated that northbound traffic weakened significantly.
On August 2, only 10 northbound vessels were recorded, marking the lowest daily total since May 26. According to the report, the decline could reflect reduced commercial shipping activity or a rise in vessels operating without Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals because of ongoing security risks in the region.