Key facts
- Commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is about 80% below pre-conflict levels.
- UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported 103 inbound and 89 outbound transits in the past week.
- The southern Omani route is identified as particularly dangerous, with 16 of 18 projectile strikes since July 6 occurring there.
- Tankers account for 45% of the reduced traffic through the strait.
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard activities, including drone overflights and radio contact, pose significant risks.
Commercial shipping traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz has seen a significant decline, operating at approximately 20% of pre-conflict levels, according to reports from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
UKMTO data indicates that vessel traffic has remained substantially reduced, with operators increasingly rerouting ships to northern passages due to elevated maritime threats. The agency recorded 103 inbound and 89 outbound transits in the week ending August 28, a figure that represents only about a fifth of the seven-day average prior to the conflict.
The southern Omani corridor of the strait has emerged as particularly perilous, accounting for 16 of the 18 projectile strike incidents reported since July 6. Overall, 23 projectile strike incidents have been reported since that date, causing damage to vessels. Despite this, tanker traffic still constitutes 45% of the limited movements through the strait, highlighting its importance for global energy supplies.
Activities by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including drone surveillance and radio contact with ships, are cited as contributing factors to the serious maritime security risks. The Joint Maritime Information Center assesses the risk in the Strait of Hormuz as severe.