Hormuz Tanker Crossings Top 20 as US-Iran Deal Reopens Key Oil Chokepoint
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jun 19
Hormuz Tanker Crossings Top 20 as US-Iran Deal Reopens Key Oil Chokepoint
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jun 19
Summary
At least 20 oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Iran began reopening the sea lane, with Thursday tanker transits reaching their highest level since June 2.
Traffic picked up after the U.S. Navy ended its blockade and Tehran allowed ships to pass toll-free for 60 days; Vice President JD Vance said Iran is honoring the agreement so far.
Kpler counted 25 total ship transits on Thursday, including 13 west-to-east and 12 east-to-west crossings; 18 ships used Iran's designated route, while only one used the IMO route.
Five Iranian supertankers loaded with oil departed the region on Friday after switching their transponders back on, a sign that Iranian crude flows are moving closer to normal patterns.
Transit levels still remain below prewar norms of more than 100 ships a day, and the deal leaves open whether Iran could impose future tolls after talks with Oman and Gulf states.
Will Iran's 60-day control over Hormuz lead to permanent tolls and restricted access for international ships?
How quickly can bypass pipelines make the world's most critical oil chokepoint obsolete?
How does this truce, which ignores Iran's missile program, reshape the long-term security balance in the Middle East?
118 Tankers Stranded: How the US-Iran Deal Reopened the Strait of Hormuz and Reshaped Global Energy Markets
Overview
Following the US-Iran interim agreement, vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resumed cautiously, with 118 tankers stranded and a surge in demand for passage. Maritime authorities prioritized oil tankers and LNG carriers, delaying other cargo as they worked to clear the backlog. This immediate reopening signaled the return of millions of barrels of crude, especially from Iran, with the potential to ease global oil prices. However, full recovery remains complex, as ongoing negotiations and security concerns continue to shape the pace and stability of energy flows and global markets.