Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted to a fraction of normal levels as a double blockade disrupts vessel movements in the strategic waterway. Ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg shows only 11 commercial ships sailed through the strait on Tuesday, down from typical peacetime volumes. The average over the weekend was just 16 ships per day.

Vessels can disable their digital transponders to conceal movements in danger zones, complicating monitoring efforts. The Wall Street Journal reported that more than 20 ships passed through on Tuesday according to US officials, suggesting some traffic may be going unreported. The strait handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments and serves as a critical chokepoint for international trade.

This severe reduction in shipping activity underscores the economic impact of regional tensions on global commerce. The blockade affects not only oil tankers but all commercial vessels transiting between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. With maritime traffic at historic lows, concerns are mounting about potential supply chain disruptions and energy market volatility.