September 21, 2026: Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply as tensions between the United States and Iran continue. Reuters reports that only 12 commodity vessels crossed the strategic waterway over the weekend, compared with roughly 125 large commercial vessels per day before the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began.
Why the Strait of Hormuz matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical energy corridor linking the Persian Gulf with global markets. Before the war, it handled large volumes of oil and liquefied natural gas as well as container ships, bulk carriers and other commercial traffic. A sustained disruption can therefore affect energy, shipping, insurance and supply chains well beyond the Gulf region.
Weekend traffic dropped to a trickle
Reuters reported that four vessels exited the strait on Sunday: two tankers carrying refined products and two empty bulk or gas carriers. Two smaller oil tankers entered the Gulf. On Saturday, five vessels left carrying agricultural products, liquefied petroleum gas and fertilizer, while an empty very large gas carrier entered.
The visible count does not capture every movement. Some Middle Eastern oil tankers are traveling with their transponders switched off, meaning shipping trackers cannot always identify their position. Reuters therefore cautions that visible vessel traffic is not a complete measure of total oil movement.
Saudi crude exports have recovered
Despite the lower visible traffic, Saudi Arabia has increased crude exports through the strait. Reuters, citing provisional Kpler data, reported that Saudi exports recovered to more than 4 million barrels per day in September after falling to about 2.4 million barrels per day in August.
The increase followed attacks by Houthi forces on Saudi Aramco's East-West pipeline, which affected shipments through the Yanbu terminal. More Saudi crude is now moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil flows remain stronger than ship counts suggest
Reuters reported that 13 tankers carrying about 34 million barrels of crude exited the strait during the week of September 13. Saudi Arabia accounted for about half of that volume, while Iraq accounted for about 35%.
JPMorgan analysts cited by Reuters estimated that Middle East oil flows averaged 17.1 million barrels per day over the previous 10 days. That was lower than the 2025 average but not a complete shutdown of regional exports.
What the disruption means for the U.S. and global markets
For the United States, the main risks include higher global energy costs, changes in shipping rates and insurance premiums, and secondary effects on transportation and manufacturing. Europe and Asia can also face supply-chain effects because Gulf energy products move through international markets.
The scale of the impact will depend on how long the disruption lasts, whether alternative routes can compensate and whether regional security conditions change.
What to watch next
- Daily vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Oil exports from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and other Gulf producers.
- Security developments involving the United States and Iran.
- Changes in tanker insurance and freight rates.
- Energy-price responses in the United States, Europe and Asia.
FAQ
How many commodity vessels crossed the strait over the weekend?
Reuters reported 12 commodity vessels, down from 35 the previous weekend.
Has oil stopped moving through the Strait of Hormuz?
No. Reuters reports that oil continues to move, including on tankers whose transponders are switched off.
How much oil did Saudi Arabia export through the strait in September?
Provisional Kpler data cited by Reuters showed Saudi exports above 4 million barrels per day so far in September.
Why is the visible traffic count lower than total oil flows?
Some tankers are not transmitting their locations, so tracking systems do not capture every movement.
Source: Reuters, September 21, 2026.
