Preliminary shipping data showed that only four commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, compared with a 10-day average of about 16 vessels.
Three of the vessels were entering the Gulf while one was exiting, according to ship-tracking data. The vessels included Panamax tankers, a Supramax ship and a Kamsarmax vessel.
The figures remain subject to revision because some vessels may switch off their tracking transponders while operating in areas where there is a heightened risk of detection.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for international energy markets. Before the latest conflict, the waterway carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, making any sustained disruption a significant concern for producers, refiners and consumers.
Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has also declined. Twenty-three commodity vessels crossed the waterway on Thursday, compared with an average of about 26 vessels over the preceding 10 days.
The two maritime corridors are strategically important because they connect major Gulf energy producers with international markets. Reduced shipping activity can therefore create uncertainty even when physical production remains available.
The disruption has already encouraged energy companies and traders to examine alternative export routes. Saudi Arabia has increased crude loadings through Oman, providing an alternative pathway for some supplies affected by disruption to conventional infrastructure.
The continuing weakness in shipping traffic also illustrates the broader economic consequences of geopolitical instability. Higher insurance costs, longer routes and increased security requirements can raise the cost of transporting energy and other commodities.
For refiners, uncertainty over shipping schedules can complicate procurement and inventory planning. Manufacturers and transport companies may subsequently face higher fuel costs if supply disruptions persist.
Governments are also likely to place greater emphasis on strategic reserves, alternative transportation corridors and infrastructure resilience as they assess the risks associated with concentrated energy supply routes.
The decline in Hormuz traffic does not by itself establish the scale or duration of future supply losses, particularly because shipping data can be revised and some vessels may not be visible to tracking systems.
Nevertheless, the latest figures provide a clear indication that maritime trade through the region remains disrupted.
For global energy markets, the Strait of Hormuz will therefore remain a critical indicator of supply-chain stability as governments, producers and investors monitor developments across the wider Middle East.
