Dubai (HRNW)-\u00a0The number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to its lowest level in five weeks following heightened tensions between the United States and Iran and recent attacks on commercial vessels, raising fresh concerns in global energy markets.<\/p>\n
According to Reuters, citing data from ship-tracking company Kepler, only six ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking the lowest daily traffic recorded in the past five weeks.<\/p>\n
The report said that two fully loaded oil tankers departing the Strait were carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Iranian crude oil and 500,000 barrels of Kuwaiti oil products. Meanwhile, three empty oil tankers entered the Gulf to load crude oil and other petroleum products.<\/p>\n
According to the report, many vessels temporarily switched off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders while passing through the Strait due to security concerns, making it more difficult to monitor their movements.<\/p>\n
Experts say that recent military tensions between the United States and Iran, along with growing concerns over maritime security, have prompted global shipping companies to exercise greater caution, contributing to a noticeable decline in commercial traffic through the strategic waterway.<\/p>\n
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, handling a significant share of global crude oil and energy exports. Any disruption to shipping through the Strait has the potential to affect international oil prices, supply chains, and global trade.<\/p>\n
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