Data compiled by Bloomberg and published through Bloomberg News indicates that more than a quarter of large non-Iranian oil tankers detained in the Gulf since the outbreak of the US–Iran conflict have managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz covertly and at low speed.
According to the data, 29 tankers out of 109 vessels, each with a carrying capacity of at least 700,000 barrels, successfully transited the strategic waterway despite heightened security risks and ongoing maritime restrictions in the region.
The report noted that while the volumes transported by these vessels represent only a fraction of the crude oil and refined products still delayed in the Gulf, the market has largely absorbed the shipments due to tightening global inventories and rapid drawdowns in storage levels.
It further highlighted that many vessels operating in the region have turned off or restricted their tracking systems, making it difficult to determine the exact number of tankers that have crossed the strait, suggesting that actual figures may be significantly higher, reports Al-Rai daily.
Shipping operators, facing intermittent hostilities linked to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, have reportedly adopted unconventional navigation strategies to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, including slow movement, signal suppression, and coordinated routing.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, and continued uncertainty over maritime security has intensified pressure on global oil markets, with traders closely monitoring developments amid broader diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and securing uninterrupted shipping flows.
