Oil Tankers Transit Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran Ceasefire Eases Blockade
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Apr 11
Oil Tankers Transit Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran Ceasefire Eases Blockade
52 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Apr 11
Three oil supertankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, marking the first such exits since the US-Iran ceasefire.
The tankers, carrying crude from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE, were bound for Malaysia and China as peace talks began in Pakistan.
Hormuz’s partial reopening follows a six-week blockade that disrupted about 20% of global oil shipments, tightening markets and raising prices.
With peace talks underway, can a lasting deal secure the world's most vital oil artery?
Oil prices soared 50%. Will this fragile ceasefire prevent them from hitting a record $200?
As Iran demands control over Hormuz, is this a dangerous precedent for global shipping lanes?
Taiwan's energy buffer is just 11 days. Is its new Red Sea route a sustainable solution?
Despite peace talks, Iran attacked a US base. How real is the threat of a wider regional war?
The crisis exposed helium shortages. How vulnerable is the global tech supply chain to energy conflicts?
Iran’s Control of Strait of Hormuz Cuts Vessel Traffic by 90%, Fueling Global Energy Instability
Overview
Following a fragile ceasefire brokered in April 2026, Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz under strict control, requiring vessels to obtain permission from the IRGC and imposing costly cryptocurrency tolls. This limited reopening has drastically reduced daily ship traffic from 135 to 15, causing a massive backlog of oil, LNG, and fertilizer shipments and disrupting global energy supplies. Iran’s enforcement of mined shipping lanes and unpredictable clearance processes have driven war-risk insurance premiums sharply higher, forcing many shippers to reroute vessels around the Arabian Peninsula at greater cost. Meanwhile, unresolved Iranian demands for U.S. troop withdrawal, sanctions relief, and nuclear program recognition keep the ceasefire precarious, fueling ongoing market uncertainty and accelerating global energy diversification efforts.