Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has climbed to its highest levels since the early days of the war, as more countries secure apparent safe-passage agreements with Iran.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has climbed to its highest levels since the early days of the war, as more countries secure apparent safe-passage agreements with Iran.
A vessel near the Strait of Hormuz on March 22, 2026. Photographer: Getty Images/Getty Images Europe
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has climbed to its highest levels since the early days of the war, as more countries secure apparent safe-passage agreements with Iran.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has climbed to its highest levels since the early days of the war, as more countries secure apparent safe-passage agreements with Iran.
A vessel near the Strait of Hormuz on March 22, 2026. Photographer: Getty Images/Getty Images Europe
A Suezmax oil tanker hauling about 1 million barrels of Iraqi crude exited the Persian Gulf via a northerly route through Iranian waters on Sunday morning, according to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.
A Suezmax oil tanker hauling about 1 million barrels of Iraqi crude exited the Persian Gulf via a northerly route through Iranian waters on Sunday morning, according to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.
Traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz has been picking up in the past week, with the seven-day rolling average for transits on Friday reaching the highest since the war started.
Traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz has been picking up in the past week, with the seven-day rolling average for transits on Friday reaching the highest since the war started.
Three tankers broadcasting Omani ownership appear to have navigated the Strait of Hormuz by hugging their home country’s coastline, indicating a different route to a northerly path through Iranian waters.
Three tankers broadcasting Omani ownership appear to have navigated the Strait of Hormuz by hugging their home country’s coastline, indicating a different route to a northerly path through Iranian waters.
A bulk carrier at Muscat Anchorage in Muscat, Oman.
Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports fell by half in March after Iran effectively prevented tankers from leaving the Persian Gulf, forcing the kingdom to reroute flows to its west coast.
Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports fell by half in March after Iran effectively prevented tankers from leaving the Persian Gulf, forcing the kingdom to reroute flows to its west coast.
An oil tanker at the port of Ras al-Khair, about 185 kilometres north of Dammam in Saudi Arabia's eastern province overlooking the Gulf.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for exports of oil, natural gas and other commodities from the Persian Gulf — remains severely constrained more than a month after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for exports of oil, natural gas and other commodities from the Persian Gulf — remains severely constrained more than a month after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz Photographer: Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025/Getty Images
The number of vessels transiting Hormuz with their signals on is ticking gently higher, even as the waterway remains effectively closed to most commercial shipping without clearance from Iran.
The number of vessels transiting Hormuz with their signals on is ticking gently higher, even as the waterway remains effectively closed to most commercial shipping without clearance from Iran.
A tug boat tows a ship off the northern Oman's Musandam Peninsula, overlooking the Strait of Hormuz on June 24.
A small cargo of Saudi crude is heading to Pakistan after crossing the Strait of Hormuz along a route hugging the Iranian coastline. A total of seven vessels were visible leaving the Persian Gulf on Saturday.
A small cargo of Saudi crude is heading to Pakistan after crossing the Strait of Hormuz along a route hugging the Iranian coastline. A total of seven vessels were visible leaving the Persian Gulf on Saturday.
A trickle of ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz along a route hugging the Iranian coastline as the war enters a second month. Only four vessels have been visible leaving the Persian Gulf over the past day.
A trickle of ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz along a route hugging the Iranian coastline as the war enters a second month. Only four vessels have been visible leaving the Persian Gulf over the past day.
Two LPG tankers and two bulk carriers exit the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on March 28, 2026.
Russia’s top oil port in the Baltic Sea resumed loading days after it came under attack from Ukrainian drones, although the company that pipes crude there said it is trying to divert barrels elsewhere because of the incidents.
Russia’s top oil port in the Baltic Sea resumed loading days after it came under attack from Ukrainian drones, although the company that pipes crude there said it is trying to divert barrels elsewhere because of the incidents.
Saudi Arabia has ramped up crude shipments from Yanbu export terminals on the Red Sea coast as it diverts supplies away from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has kept effectively closed since the end of February.
Saudi Arabia has ramped up crude shipments from Yanbu export terminals on the Red Sea coast as it diverts supplies away from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has kept effectively closed since the end of February.
Value of shipments hits most since just after Ukraine invasion, amid higher prices and flows
Russia shipped 3.6 million barrels a day of crude in the four weeks to March 22, helping boost inflows to the Kremlin’s war chest to the highest in four years.
Value of shipments hits most since just after Ukraine invasion, amid higher prices and flows
Russia shipped 3.6 million barrels a day of crude in the four weeks to March 22, helping boost inflows to the Kremlin’s war chest to the highest in four years.
It took just days for the Iran war to hobble oil fields, refineries and gas plants across the Persian Gulf, but it could take years to restore their full potential as the conflict drags on.
It took just days for the Iran war to hobble oil fields, refineries and gas plants across the Persian Gulf, but it could take years to restore their full potential as the conflict drags on.
Damage to Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, in an image released on March 2.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for exports of oil, natural gas and other commodities from the Persian Gulf — remains at a near-standstill weeks after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for exports of oil, natural gas and other commodities from the Persian Gulf — remains at a near-standstill weeks after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz Photographer: Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025/Getty Images
Oil and gas markets have been rocked by disruption to supply out of the Persian Gulf. Prices of both commodities have jumped since the US and Israel began their strikes on Iran.
Oil and gas markets have been rocked by disruption to supply out of the Persian Gulf. Prices of both commodities have jumped since the US and Israel began their strikes on Iran.
The liquefied natural gas production facility in Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for exports of oil, gas and other commodities from the Persian Gulf — remains at a near-standstill weeks after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for exports of oil, gas and other commodities from the Persian Gulf — remains at a near-standstill weeks after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
An Iranian Navy speedboat near the strait of Hormuz.