Hormuz shipping traffic falls to two-month low after tanker attacks

SINGAPORE, October 8, 2026 — Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level in more than two months, as a renewed wave of attacks and security threats pushes shipping operators to reassess the risks of using the strategically important waterway.

Vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened regional tensions

Data from maritime analytics firm Kpler showed that only seven commodity-carrying vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, the lowest daily figure recorded since July 23. The decline comes after tanker-related incidents in the region reached their highest weekly level since the start of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

The reduction in vessel traffic is also reflected in crude oil flows. Kpler data indicated that crude shipments through Hormuz fell 27% from a wartime peak, to about 10.1 million barrels per day. That remains substantially below the waterway’s pre-war level.

Oil tanker sailing through the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Before the conflict, roughly 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies moved through the passage, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for energy markets.

SECURITY CONCERNS GROW

Shipping activity has weakened as vessels face greater uncertainty over their safety. Reuters reported that at least 12 tanker-related incidents were recorded between September 28 and October 5, including attacks, attempted attacks and harassment. The Joint Maritime Information Center said the incidents reflected heightened activity around key shipping routes.

A separate tanker incident near Qatar has added to concerns about the wider security environment in the Gulf. The latest attacks have increased insurance and operational risks for companies moving oil and other commodities through the region.

Despite the sharp reduction in traffic through Hormuz, Middle Eastern oil exports have not collapsed. Alternative routes and increased shipments from areas outside the strait have helped keep regional exports flowing. Reuters reported that exports from the Gulf of Oman coast and the Red Sea had risen to around 6.7 million barrels per day, more than twice their pre-war level.

OIL PRICES UNDER PRESSURE

The shipping slowdown has nevertheless added fresh uncertainty to global energy markets. Brent crude was trading above $100 a barrel on Thursday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate was also higher as traders assessed the possibility of further supply disruptions.

Oil tankers in the Gulf as Hormuz shipping activity falls

For countries that depend heavily on imported fuel, prolonged disruption around Hormuz could increase transportation, electricity and consumer costs if alternative supplies and shipping routes become more expensive.

For now, the latest figures suggest that vessels are still moving through the waterway, but at considerably reduced levels. The key question for energy markets is whether the decline represents a temporary reaction to heightened attacks or the beginning of a longer period of restricted maritime traffic.