London, August 22: The commercial traffic through the strategically vital Hormuz Strait has not seen significant growth. According to a report from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the daily movement of vessels in the strait remains in single digits. This stagnation is primarily attributed to Iranian military activities and serious maritime security risks. In recent months, several ships have also fallen victim to attacks.
The UKMTO reported that in the past week, 103 vessels entered the Hormuz Strait, while 89 exited. However, the total movement in both directions amounts to only about 20% of the pre-war seven-day average. This indicates that commercial activities on this crucial maritime route for global energy supply are still far from normal levels.
The report highlights that activities by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continue to pose significant risks to vessels. These include drone surveillance flights, radio communications with ships, and the threat of navigating areas suspected to contain naval mines.
In the limited commercial movement currently ongoing in Hormuz, tankers carrying oil and other liquid fuels account for the largest share at 45%. This underscores 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.
According to UKMTO data, the southern Omani route of the strait is considered particularly risky. Of the 18 projectile attacks recorded by UKMTO since July 6, 16 occurred in this area.
As a result, ship operators are exercising caution when navigating this route due to the security risks involved.
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