Chokepoints › Strait of Hormuz
Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic
Persian Gulf · Daily ship transits from IMF PortWatch, latest day Nov 8, 2026.
Traffic is close to its 90-day average (7-day average 3.9 ships a day vs 4).
Daily transits, last 30 days
Bright bars: tankers. Faded bars: all other ships.
Why the Strait of Hormuz matters
The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the open ocean, between Iran and Oman. Crude and products from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait and Iran, plus most of Qatar's LNG, leave the Gulf through it, so it carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil. Pipelines from Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah can bypass it, but only for part of that volume. When daily transits fall, traders watch the Brent-Dubai spread, tanker rates and Asian LNG prices first, because buyers in China, India, Japan and Korea depend most on Gulf barrels.
Markets to watch
- Brent and WTI crude: A large share of seaborne crude exports passes the strait.
- Asian LNG (JKM) and European gas (TTF): Qatar's LNG exports have no other sea route.
- Tanker shipping rates and tanker stocks: Fewer transits and longer waits tighten tanker supply.
- Gulf currencies and equities: Export revenue and insurance costs move with the risk.
Related
Other chokepoints: Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca.
Country risk: Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq.
FAQ
How many ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day?
In the 7 days to Nov 8, 2026, an average of 3.9 ships a day passed through the Strait of Hormuz, including 1 tankers, against 4 a day over the previous 90 days. Counts come from IMF PortWatch satellite AIS data.
Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter for oil prices?
Roughly a fifth of the world's oil and most of Qatar's LNG pass through it, and the bypass pipelines can carry only part of that volume. A drop in transits tightens supply quickly, which shows up first in Brent, tanker rates and Asian LNG prices.
Which countries depend on the Strait of Hormuz?
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Iran export through it, and China, India, Japan and South Korea are the largest buyers of those cargoes.