Dubai: Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen further as attacks across the Middle East increase concerns over the safety of commercial vessels and the security of global energy supplies.
Preliminary shipping data showed that only four commodity vessel transits were recorded through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, September 14. That was down from 10 the previous day and far below the level seen before the war began on February 28.
The strait normally handled about 125 large commercial vessels a day before the conflict. It also carried about one fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, making the waterway one of the most important energy routes in the world.
The latest figures do not necessarily mean that only four vessels were physically present in or near the strait. Shipping data can miss vessels when their tracking signals are switched off or unavailable. However, the sharp fall in recorded traffic shows how seriously the conflict is affecting commercial shipping.
The decline has continued for several days. Commodity vessel movements through the strait have remained at single digit levels, after already falling far below normal levels.
The situation has also become more dangerous for crews. The International Maritime Organization said there had been 79 confirmed maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East region as of September 14. The incidents had resulted in 22 confirmed seafarer deaths.
Among the recent incidents was damage to the vessel EL GAIA in the Strait of Hormuz on September 12. The International Maritime Organization initially reported two seafarers missing. India later said 13 of the 14 Indian crew members had been rescued and one remained missing.
Iranian media reported that EL GAIA exploded and caught fire after hitting mines. The claim has been disputed by the United States, which said the vessel had previously been hit by a missile and later by a drone. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain disputed.
The shipping problems are now being accompanied by serious pressure on other energy routes.
Saudi Arabia's East West oil pipeline remains largely out of service after an attack on the vital route. The pipeline is about 1,200 kilometres long and allows Saudi Arabia to transport oil from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu without sending it through the Strait of Hormuz.
The pipeline can move up to about four million barrels of oil a day, equivalent to around four percent of global oil supply. Its disruption has therefore added to concerns about how much oil Saudi Arabia can continue to export if the wider crisis continues.
Oil prices also rose on Tuesday as traders assessed the risks to global supplies. In early trading, Brent crude was above $106 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate was above $102.
The concern is not limited to the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, another important route for international trade, also declined. The waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is particularly important for vessels travelling between Europe and Asia.
At the same time, Yemen's Houthi movement has continued attacks against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis said they launched missiles and drones against a Saudi military base in retaliation for Saudi attacks in Yemen.
The growing violence has also affected diplomatic efforts to improve shipping conditions. A planned meeting involving Iran and Gulf Arab states in Oman was postponed. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the postponement was made in the interests of consensus and reaffirmed Oman's commitment to dialogue and regional stability.
The postponement adds to uncertainty over efforts to improve shipping conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The developments have created wider concerns for the global economy. Hormuz is not simply a regional waterway. Any prolonged disruption can affect oil and gas supplies, shipping costs, fuel prices and the cost of transporting goods around the world.
The latest developments also show why alternative routes are becoming increasingly important. But the disruption to Saudi Arabia's East West pipeline and the continuing pressure around Bab el Mandeb demonstrate that alternative routes are also exposed to the wider regional conflict.
For now, commercial vessels are still passing through the Strait of Hormuz, although traffic remains at exceptionally low levels. The sharp fall in shipping movements, repeated maritime incidents, attacks on regional infrastructure and delayed diplomatic efforts point to a worsening security environment.
The key question for global energy markets is now how long these disruptions will continue and whether safe and reliable routes for Gulf energy exports can be restored before the pressure on supplies becomes more severe.