Hormuz Disruptions May Extend Into 2027, Japanese Tanker Firm Warns

Tamura stated that it is difficult to foresee operations resuming in any capacity by the end of the current year. This revised expectation contrasts with the company's previous assumption in a quarterly financial report, which projected a gradual resumption of navigation around the Strait of Hormuz from October 2026, with full normalization by January 2027.

The executive emphasized that the current situation presents a level of risk that the company cannot accept. Consequently, Mitsui OSK Lines has no immediate plans to resume shipping oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Tamura indicated that a de-escalation of tensions and concrete guarantees of sustainably safe passage are necessary before the company would consider returning to this critical maritime route.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly slumped to a few transits daily since the recent flare-up, although some volumes have been moved via less transparent methods. The market is concerned that this re-escalation could jeopardize the tentative recovery of oil flows from the Middle East observed in recent weeks. In response, resource-poor Japan is reportedly preparing an energy import diversification plan that may include support for pipelines in the Middle East to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz.