1 week ago
Hormuz Ship Traffic Rises as Cargo Movements Fall
More ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz during the week ending August 23.
However, many of those ships were not carrying cargo.
The number of cargo-carrying trips fell by 27 percent.
This means that seeing more ships did not necessarily mean that more goods or energy were moving.
More sanctioned ships also used the route.
Many ships followed a special route set up by Iran.
Another waterway, Bab el-Mandeb, had far more crossings and remained stronger.
Kpler said the two waterways showed very different signs of shipping activity and risk.
Confirmed Strait of Hormuz crossings rose 2.5% week-on-week to 121 in the week ended August 23.
Cargo-carrying transits through Hormuz fell 27%, suggesting weaker commercial flows despite higher vessel traffic.
Sanctioned vessel crossings increased to 16 from nine, while Iran’s unilateral routing scheme handled 46.3% of crossings.
Bab el-Mandeb crossings rose 3.1% to 269, more than twice the number recorded at Hormuz.
Kpler said Hormuz traffic showed weakening commercial substance, while Bab el-Mandeb remained relatively resilient.
- Who
- Ships, sanctioned vessels, Iran-routed vessels, and maritime intelligence firm Kpler.
- What
- Hormuz vessel crossings increased, but cargo-carrying transits declined sharply; Bab el-Mandeb traffic also rose.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
- When
- The week ended August 23, with comparisons to the preceding week.
- Why
- The figures were used to assess shipping activity, commercial cargo flows, and risk signals at the two energy chokepoints.
Key facts
- Hormuz crossings
- 121 confirmed crossings, up 2.5% week-on-week.
- Cargo-carrying transits
- Down 27% through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Sanctioned crossings
- Rose to 16 from nine.
- Iranian routing
- Iran’s unilateral routing scheme accounted for 46.3% of Hormuz crossings.
- Bab el-Mandeb crossings
- 269 crossings, up 3.1% and more than double Hormuz’s total.
- Bab el-Mandeb sanctioned and shadow-fleet traffic
- Broadly unchanged at a combined 74 vessels.
Quotes
Kpler
Maritime intelligence firm monitoring vessel traffic and routing patterns
“Traffic edged higher through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb last week, but headline volumes obscure contrasting risk signals.”
financialexpress.com
“commercial substance is weakening at Hormuz even as overall traffic holds up”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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