Why gasoline prices remain high despite oil traffic through Hormuz

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  Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has returned to about 80% of its pre-war level, but gasoline prices have not fallen.

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  Night-time convoys and transfers of oil to other ships outside the war zone make shipments costly.

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  Michelle Brohard of Kpler suspects some Gulf countries are paying Tehran the equivalent of 10% to 20% of the cargo on ships crossing the strait.

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  Tanker insurance and freight costs have risen to 40 times their pre-war levels.

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  Ships are carrying mainly crude oil because damaged regional refineries cannot process it into fuels such as gasoline and diesel.

Who

Oil tankers and Gulf countries are involved in the shipments; consumers face the high gasoline prices.

What

Gasoline prices remain high despite tanker traffic through Hormuz reaching about 80% of its pre-war level.

When

The article was published on October 10, 2026, and updated on October 11, 2026.

Where

The Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding Gulf region.

Why

Shipments remain costly, and damaged refineries cannot process crude oil into the fuels consumers use.

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