Amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz experienced a sharp decline on Thursday, causing disruptions in one of the world’s crucial energy corridors. Only three commodity vessels navigated the strategic passage, marking the lowest daily activity recorded since May. This slowdown comes as security concerns heightened following recent attacks on commercial ships and increased military strain in the area.

The significant reduction in vessel movement has sparked alarm over potential impacts on global energy supplies, as the Strait of Hormuz is vital for a large portion of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports. The disruption has also been linked to a rise in global oil prices. Some vessels that managed to traverse the strait subsequently halted in the Gulf of Oman, and at least one fuel tanker chose to return to the Persian Gulf soon after exiting the passage.

Thursday’s decrease followed an already slow day on Wednesday, when only 11 vessels passed through the strait, significantly below the typical daily average of approximately 125 ships. Notably absent for the second day were large crude oil tankers and liquefied natural gas carriers. Despite the reduced traffic, two large crude carriers, each transporting about two million barrels of oil, later emerged outside the strait, continuing on their routes to Asia and Europe.

In a related development, Iraq briefly halted oil loading operations at its Basra export terminal following a drone strike on an oil tanker, though operations resumed shortly afterward. Additionally, Iran has cautioned that if military actions persist, oil and gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz could remain affected, stirring further concerns about instability in global energy markets.