Tanker traffic slows in Strait of Hormuz after clashes
Daily tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz appears to have slowed after the United States and Iran exchanged hostilities this week and renewed arguments over who controls passage through the critical waterway.
The attacks renewed concerns about the recovery of global oil supplies and transportation and underscored the fragility of a temporary ceasefire while the United States and Iran reach a permanent deal.
Oil prices eased on Friday but remained on track for a weekly rise of 4-5 percent following the flare-up.
The International Energy Agency said that global oil supplies increased by 4.1 million barrels per day in June as shipping through the Bosphorus resumed, but remained 9.4 million barrels per day below pre-war levels.
It was warned that diesel and gasoline supplies were tight, and it was stated that refineries reacted more slowly than crude oil prices to the reopening of the strait.
Only 22 ships passed through the strait on Thursday.
According to the report of data and analysis company Kpler, the number of transits remained at 30 on Wednesday.
Kpler said that a week ago on Thursday, before the latest clashes began, 48 ships passed through the strait.
Data provider Windward also noted in an analysis published Thursday that shipping traffic out of the Gulf had “effectively stopped.”
Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz supplied approximately one-fifth of global oil supply.
Iran has since largely seized control of the waterway, bringing its conflict with the world’s most powerful military to a stalemate.
Under the interim agreement, the United States lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports and Iran agreed to ensure the safe passage of commercial ships.
But this week the United States accused Iranian forces of attacking three tankers in the region and struck military facilities on Iran’s southern coast and eastern provinces in response.
Although Iran has not claimed responsibility for these attacks, analysts say Iran uses such actions to gain advantage in negotiations.
Iran then attacked US military facilities in Gulf countries on Thursday.
The US has said its action was aimed at keeping the strait open and that Iran does not control the waterway.
But Iran has warned that the strait will only reopen on its terms and that any US intervention would be met with an “overwhelming response”.
Attacks on three Qatari and Saudi transport ships led US President Donald Trump to declare the ceasefire “over”, but a US official later said the US was still committed to finding a solution with Iran and “technical discussions are continuing”.
The New York Times reported that Qatar is in talks with the United States and Iran to ease the crisis.
Before this week’s attacks, daily tanker traffic was at its highest level since the beginning of the war, with an average of 40 ships passing through the strait.
This figure was still far from the pre-conflict average of 125 to 140 trips per day.
with DPA
