Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has decreased significantly in recent days, to the point that a Chinese container ship is now among the very few vessels that have managed to cross this strategic route in the last 24 hours.
According to maritime analysis data published Thursday, the Chinese vessel Zhong Gu Nan Chang passed through the strait amid growing uncertainty over the full reopening of this vital waterway for global oil and merchandise trade.
Before the outbreak of war against Iran on February 28, between 125 and 140 ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz daily. Now, traffic has fallen to only about ten passages per day, consisting mainly of container ships, bulk carriers, chemical tankers and a few oil tankers.
The analyzed data shows that very few oil tankers are using this route, despite a fragile ceasefire in the region. Only one oil tanker linked to Iran has recently transited the Gulf of Oman, according to maritime tracking companies.
This sharp drop in maritime traffic is due to persistent tensions between the United States and Iran, as negotiations for an agreement remain stalled. The American blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran's control over the Strait of Gibraltar are severely complicating the ongoing diplomatic discussions.
The situation is causing particular concern in the international maritime sector. Approximately 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the Gulf aboard hundreds of ships immobilized by the conflict and shipping restrictions.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most important energy transit points, with a large portion of global oil exports passing through this narrow area located between Iran and Oman.
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