Hormuz traffic plunges to five ships as Iran reasserts closure threat
The sharp drop in Hormuz transits, from 26 vessels Saturday to just five Sunday, signals a fast-deteriorating risk picture even though the US military insists commercial traffic continues. Oil markets are likely to reprice supply risk higher given the strait's role as the world's most critical crude chokepoint, with VLCC movements of Saudi, Emirati, Kuwaiti and Iraqi crude directly exposed. The decision by ADNOC and Kuwait Petroleum to offer cargoes loadable from outside the strait points to producers already hedging against prolonged disruption, a signal traders will likely treat as more telling than rhetoric from either side. Expect elevated volatility in crude and freight rates until clarity emerges on whether this closure holds.
Earlier:
- US official says in-depth discussions held, working to ensure Hormuz remains open
- New York Times: China set to keep shaping oil prices as it holds back on imports
- AXIOS report that US and Iran make headway on Hormuz access ahead of technical-level talks
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Hormuz ship transits fell to five on Sunday from 26 a day earlier after Iran again declared the strait closed, citing Israeli and US violations.
Summary: According to shipping data from analytics firm Kpler cited by Reuters:
- Just five vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, down from 26 the day before
- Three Very Large Crude Carriers among Sunday's transits each carried 2 million barrels of Saudi crude and fuel oil, one bound for Japan
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the strait closed again Saturday, citing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, despite having lifted its blockade last week under a 60-day ceasefire extension
- The US military says commercial vessels are still operating through the waterway
- ADNOC and Kuwait Petroleum Corp have issued tenders allowing crude loading from outside the strait
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz collapsed on Sunday after Iran again declared the waterway closed, with just five vessels transiting compared with 26 the day before, according to data from analytics firm Kpler cited by Reuters.
Three Very Large Crude Carriers were among Sunday's transits, each carrying two million barrels of Saudi crude and fuel oil, with one bound for Japan. Kpler noted its data may not capture vessels that switch off transponders while in the Gulf.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the strait shut again on Saturday, citing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, despite having lifted its effective blockade last week after agreeing with the United States to extend an April ceasefire for 60 days. The US military said commercial vessels were still operating.
Saturday's traffic included three VLCCs carrying crude from the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq, plus three tankers carrying oil products, with 13 ships entering the strait that day. Separately, Gulf producers ADNOC and Kuwait Petroleum Corp have issued tenders offering crude with the option to load from outside the strait, a sign of producers hedging against further disruption.
Via Google Maps.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.提供 MainLink：Investinglive RSS Breaking News Feed
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