Tanker and ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz falls to its lowest in months

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply amid the escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States. According to vessel-tracking data cited by CNN on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, only about 9 vessels passed through the waterway in the latest 24-hour window, compared with a pre-conflict daily average of roughly 130.

Since the ceasefire collapsed around early July, at least seven commercial ships transiting the strait have been struck. About one fifth of the world's consumed crude oil passes through the strait, and the steep drop in traffic, together with a surge in tanker war-risk insurance premiums and the temporary suspension of major shipping lines, has added pressure to the energy supply chain and global oil prices.