Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz saw a marginal increase on Monday, remaining in single digits, according to preliminary shipping data released Tuesday. This trend persists amidst ongoing diplomatic stagnation between the United States and Iran.
Kpler shiptracking data indicates that six commodity vessels transited the strait on Monday, with three entering the Gulf and three exiting. This figure is below the ten-day average of eleven ships. Saturday saw three transits, followed by two on Sunday.
Notably, no very large crude carriers or tankers carrying liquefied natural gas were recorded passing through the strait. The data also acknowledges that some vessels may transit with their transponders deactivated, thus not being included in the official tally.
Among the vessels observed, the very large gas carrier (VLGC) Xavia entered the strait via the Iranian route while in ballast, meaning it was empty of cargo. VLGCs are commonly utilized for the transportation of liquefied petroleum gases, including propane and butane.
Additionally, a medium-range fuel tanker and an intermediate-range tanker were observed entering the Gulf. Conversely, a medium-sized LPG carrier, a Panamax bulk carrier, and a Panamax-sized fuel tanker were recorded exiting the waterway.
