Gulf shipping traffic steady amid uncertainty of peace talks, eight ships transit Strait of Hormuz

Shipping traffic through the critical maritime chokepoints of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab remained steady on Tuesday, according to ship-tracking data. Eight vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, including five tankers and three bulk carriers, matching the previous day's numbers. Six of these vessels were entering the strait, while two were exiting.

This traffic level is significantly lower than the typical 130 to 140 ships that would pass through the waterway before the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, which led Iran to close the strait. Despite the ongoing conflict, maritime activity shows a consistent, albeit reduced, flow.

In a notable development, a liquefied natural gas tanker managed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co reappeared outside the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker, Mubaraz, had departed the United Arab Emirates on July 14 with a cargo from Das Island. It was last seen inside the strait on July 16 and is now off the western coast of India, with an expected arrival at India's Dahej terminal on August 5. This marks the third time the Mubaraz has exited the strait with cargoes from Das Island since the war commenced, with previous deliveries to China and India.

Meanwhile, traffic at the Bab el-Mandeb strait also showed no change, with 20 vessels crossing on Tuesday. Ten vessels entered and ten exited the waterway, comprising six tankers, three dry bulk carriers, and a gas carrier entering, while seven tankers and three bulk carriers exited. It is noted that some vessels may still be sailing with their transponders turned off, meaning they are not included in these counts.