Ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz fall to a record low: about 3 vessels in 24 hours versus a pre-war average near 110

According to shipping tracking reports as of Friday, July 17, 2026, only about 3 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, roughly a 97 percent drop from the pre-war daily average of about 110 ships.

No very large crude carriers (VLCCs) or LNG tankers are reported to have passed during this window, the second consecutive day without such movements. Traffic plunged after Tehran said the strait would stay closed until further notice.

The Strait of Hormuz carries about one fifth of the world's oil, and much of Iran's own crude exports, including from Kharg Island, also move through Persian Gulf waters, so the halt weighs directly on both the global energy market and Iran's foreign-currency revenue.