Tuesday, March 10, 2026-Commercial shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has slowed dramatically as the conflict involving Iran intensifies, with vessel-tracking data showing that mostly Iran-linked ships are still making the crossing while many other vessels avoid the route. The narrow waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf to global markets, has seen traffic fall sharply after attacks on merchant ships and ongoing missile and drone activity raised the risk for commercial operators.
Shipping companies and tanker operators have largely halted transits through the strait, choosing to anchor nearby or reroute ships rather than risk entering the conflict zone. Major global carriers have suspended voyages in the area, and insurers have imposed war-risk restrictions that make voyages through the strait difficult or extremely expensive. As a result, most commercial traffic has stalled while a limited number of vessels linked to Iran continue to move through the corridor.
The disruption is beginning to affect global energy flows because the Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and large volumes of liquefied natural gas. With tankers unable to freely enter or leave the Persian Gulf, storage facilities are filling up and some oil producers are adjusting output or redirecting shipments through alternative routes, adding further volatility to global energy markets.
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