Weekly Traffic Through Strait Of Hormuz Rises To 55 Ships From Wartime Low Of 19: Kpler Data

Last Updated:May 18, 2026, 23:08 IST

The increase, recorded between May 11 and May 17, brings shipping activity back in line with the average seen since the start of the war.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has rebounded to 55 commodity vessels per week, recovering from a sharp wartime low of just 19 ships, according to data from maritime tracking firm Kpler.

The increase, recorded between May 11 and May 17, brings shipping activity back in line with the average seen since the start of the war.

The previous week’s figure of 19 vessels marked the lowest level since the war began on 28 February, when US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered major disruption to shipping, with Tehran blocking the Strait of Hormuz and causing widespread disruption to global energy markets.

The latest recovery suggests a partial stabilisation of maritime movement through one of the world’s most strategic shipping lanes.

Iranian state media said the Revolutionary Guards had recently allowed more vessels to pass through the waterway, reporting that over 30 ships were cleared in a single day earlier in the week. However, officials continue to maintain that maritime traffic will not fully return to pre-war norms.

According to Kpler, the 55 vessels crossing last week included a mix of cargo types. Around half were tankers carrying liquids, including three very large crude carriers reportedly bound for China, Oman and Japan. The data also showed 15 dry bulk ships and 16 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers transiting the strait.

Only one liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker carrying Qatari gas to Pakistan crossed during the week, on May 12, bringing total LNG transits since the conflict began to eight.

Since March 1, a total of 663 commodity vessels have passed through the strait, averaging about 55 per week. In normal times, the waterway handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments.

Iran has also moved to tighten oversight of the strait, announcing the creation of a new body to manage operations and levy charges on passing vessels, adding to uncertainty in global shipping markets.

Kpler data also indicates that Chinese-linked vessels accounted for a small share of last week’s traffic, alongside a few Hong Kong-flagged ships heading toward Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Analysts note that destination reporting remains incomplete as ships often withhold final ports of call during transit.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a key flashpoint in stalled US-Iran negotiations, which have yet to produce a breakthrough.

(With inputs from AFP)

News world Weekly Traffic Through Strait Of Hormuz Rises To 55 Ships From Wartime Low Of 19: Kpler Data

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