Strait of Hormuz vessel traffic falls to lowest level since May after US and Iranian tanker strikes

Kpler shipping data cited by Bloomberg-linked outlets shows the 10-day moving average of commodity vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz dropped to 10 per day, down from more than 15 on Friday and nearly 13 on Saturday -- the lowest since May. The decline follows US strikes on three Iranian oil tankers, including one off Kharg Island, and IRGC navy retaliatory strikes on three tankers using unauthorized routes plus additional US vessels elsewhere in the Gulf.

Why this matters. A traffic collapse to May-level lows signals shippers are pulling back from the Strait despite US Navy escort claims, threatening to tighten global crude supply and push freight and insurance costs higher through the Gulf chokepoint.