Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slumped sharply, with vessel traffic grinding to a near standstill as shipowners steer clear of the world’s most vital energy chokepoint.
The deterioration follows the implementation of a blockade by US President Donald Trump last week, which has effectively choked off transit through the corridor amid renewed fighting between Washington and Tehran.
The collapse in traffic volume underscores the severe operational risks now facing global energy flows.
With the Strait handling a significant portion of global oil and LNG shipments, the avoidance behavior by major shipping lines threatens to tighten supply constraints further.
This development extends the risk premium that has already been priced into energy markets following earlier military exchanges in the region.
The situation marks a sharp escalation from previous diplomatic stalemates, where talks in Doha had stalled but physical transit remained largely intact.
Now, direct military engagement and the formal blockade have created a de facto closure for commercial traffic.
The disruption comes as US forces have struck Iranian targets for a tenth consecutive night, with a tanker recently attacked in the strait, highlighting the immediate physical danger to maritime assets.
Market participants are now assessing the duration of this disruption and its potential impact on global oil inventories.