Strait of Hormuz Under Siege: Shipping Traffic Plummets Amid Ongoing Tensions

Fri Mar 20 2026 10:39:15 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As nearly 100 ships navigate through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating military tensions, traffic has drastically fallen—revealing a complex web of risk and response in this key maritime corridor.

Following the outbreak of war in late February, the number of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz has decreased significantly, now averaging only 5-6 ships daily. Key players include numerous vessels under Iranian connections, as analysts highlight ongoing military threats complicating shipping routes and prompting evasive maneuvers.

Just under 100 ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of March, according to data analyzed by BBC Verify, despite periodic attacks on shipping in the area by Iranian forces.

While some energy and everyday goods are still moving through one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, daily traffic is down about 95% since the Iran war began on 28 February.

Before the war, about 138 ships passed through the strait each day according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre, carrying one fifth of the global oil supply.

The data provided by shipping analysts Kpler shows 99 vessels passing the narrow strait so far this month, an average of just 5-6 vessels a day. BBC Verify looks at the ships making the journey and the risks they are taking.

Our analysis indicates that about a third of these recent crossings were made by ships with connections to Iran, including 14 vessels sailing under Iran's flag and others under sanctions due to suspected links to Tehran's oil trade.

Nine other ships were owned by companies with addresses linked to China, while six listed India as their destination.

Some ships successfully crossing the strait seem to be taking a longer route than usual, with tracking data for a Pakistan-flagged oil tanker suggesting it sailed close to the Iranian coast on its passage through the strait on 15 March, rather than the more widely used route through the middle.

Since the conflict began, 20 commercial vessels have been attacked off the Iranian coast, with incidents including the Thai-flagged bulker Mayuree Naree, which was struck by projectiles while attempting to pass through.

As the situation escalates, commercial shipping lanes are increasingly becoming battlegrounds, forcing vessels to navigate around Iran's territorial waters to avoid conflicts.

Analysts suggest that the threats of unmanned aerial vehicles, shore-based anti-ship missiles, unmanned surface vessels, and naval mines present serious challenges to maritime safety. This has led many ships to turn off their tracking systems in an effort to conceal their movements from potential threats.