According to new data, the volume of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased. Reports indicate that the traffic of ships has dropped by 27% to its lowest level since July 23. This decrease in ship traffic occurs as attacks on oil tankers have increased, and claims by the U.S. Central Command regarding an increase in oil flow seem to contradict reality.
Details of the Decrease in Ship Traffic
According to information provided by Kpler, on October 6, only seven cargo ships, including oil tankers and other types of vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz. In comparison, data from LSEG show that on the same day, eight ships, including five oil tankers, were in transit through the Strait of Hormuz. This is while the number of passing ships on Monday had reached 14, significantly lower than the daily average of over 20 ships earlier this month.
Impact of Attacks on Oil Exports
Analysts believe that the increase in attacks on oil tankers has significantly impacted the decrease in ship traffic this week. Iranian media reported that over the past week, 14 ships have been attacked, and more than six ships have been warned to return. It seems that Iran is targeting these ships in response to the halt in diplomatic negotiations. Additionally, reports indicate that Iran's oil reserves outside the Persian Gulf have sharply decreased, which in turn has pressured the country's revenues.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command claims that 20 million barrels of oil are passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and in recent months, U.S. forces have supported the transport of over 1.25 billion barrels of oil from Gulf partners. However, experts believe that as long as the security situation in the region does not stabilize, ship traffic will be severely affected by the attacks.
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