Crude oil flows through the waterway dropped to 2.9M b/d on October 11, down from a September average of 15.5M b/d that neared pre-war levels of 17M to 20M b/d. The seven day average flow currently sits 43% below levels seen before the conflict. Increased war-risk insurance costs and difficulty hiring crews have reduced the willingness of ship owners to sail despite ongoing production at Gulf terminals.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Iran Hits 26 Vessels in 2 Weeks at Wartime High
Commodities7 days ago
Shipping volume in the Middle East has plunged to 29 daily transits from a historical average of 138 after a surge of hostile activity around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran struck 26 vessels over the previous 14 days, including six on October 11 alone, which consisted of five tankers and one container ship. The Joint Maritime Information Center now rates the threat to merchant shipping as "severe," the second-highest risk level for the region.
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