Three oil supertankers successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, indicating a significant increase in oil shipping activity. This event occurred days after a fragile ceasefire was established between the United States and Iran. The vessels included two Chinese supertankers fully loaded with crude oil, which passed through the waterway hours after a Greek vessel had also transited. This marks the largest volume of oil exits through Hormuz since the war caused traffic in the waterway to nearly halt six weeks prior.
The increase in traffic suggests growing confidence among shipowners and traders regarding the safety of sending vessels through this critical energy chokepoint. All vessels were broadcasting their locations, as reported by vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Importantly, none of the supertankers were transporting oil from Iran, nor did they have any apparent direct connections to the country. This development contrasts with earlier periods of heightened security concerns and disruptions in the strait.
Previous concerns about the Strait of Hormuz included vessels operating with transponders turned off due to security issues amid US-Iran conflicts. For example, in mid-April, secret crossings became common, with some vessels going dark to avoid detection. However, the recent transit of these three supertankers with open signals suggests a shift towards more routine shipping operations following recent geopolitical de-escalation.
