Few Western Ships Sail Through Hormuz As Iran Allows Limited Grain Imports Amid War

Last Updated:March 21, 2026, 22:11 IST

Iran lets Greek managed grain ships like Star Gwyneth and Giacometti cross Strait of Hormuz to supply Imam Khomeini port as war and blockade strain food security.

Iran has allowed a limited number of cargo ships carrying grains and agricultural goods to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war with the United States and Israel, as it moves to secure critical food supplies, as reported by the Financial Times.

Notably, nearly all of the vessels that have transited the strait are under Greek management, making them among the few Western-linked ships to navigate the waterway since the conflict began on February 28. One such vessel, Star Gwyneth, was hit by a missile on March 11, underscoring the risks involved.

According to an analysis of marine tracking data, at least six ships unloaded cargo at Iran’s Imam Khomeini port, a key commercial hub in the northern Gulf, before passing through the strait between March 15 and 16.

A further five vessels also used alternative shipping lanes through the strait after unloading at the port since March 9, according to analytics firm Kpler. Among them was the Giacometti, which carried Canadian soybeans and crossed into the Gulf on Friday.

Bulk cargo ships have accounted for most of the limited traffic through the strait after Iran effectively imposed a blockade in response to the war. Tehran’s control over the waterway has disrupted global trade, with nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil normally passing through the Hormuz corridor, contributing to rising energy prices.

The shipments appear aimed at sustaining domestic food supplies. While Iran produces a significant portion of its own food, it remains heavily dependent on imports of grains and oilseeds, which are used for cooking oil and livestock feed.

According to Andrey Sizov, managing director of grain consultancy SovEcon, Iran produces about 1.5 million tonnes of corn annually but imports between 8 million and 10 million tonnes, primarily from Brazil. He described agriculture as “a pain point" for the country, noting that pre-existing water shortages had already strained production. “It’s a huge problem for farmers," he said.

Before the conflict, Iran had built up strategic reserves of around 4 million tonnes of wheat, enough to meet domestic demand for roughly four months. Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh recently said bakeries had been allocated nearly two months’ worth of flour, urging citizens not to panic buy.

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