Hormuz crossings reach highest since July as VLCC traffic falls

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz reached its highest monthly level since July in October, although very large crude carrier movements declined. Hellenic Shipping News, carrying a Platts report citing S&P Global Commodities at Sea (CAS) data released on 2 November, reported 750 observed and assumed transits, compared with 749 in September.

VLCC crossings dropped to 156 from 184 a month earlier, but gains among other vessel types outweighed the reduction in crude tanker activity. Bulk carriers recorded 149 transits, their highest total since June. LNG carrier movements rose to 32, the most since the start of the Iran war, after crossings had fallen sharply following damage to Qatar’s LNG production units. LPG tanker traffic slipped to 36 from 40 as inbound activity weakened, while outbound movements held steady.

The traffic figures came against continuing threats to shipping at Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. CAS described deteriorating operating conditions during October, including reported projectile impacts, ship fires and other security incidents. International Maritime Organization secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez told journalists on 2 November that, to his recollection, 30 attacks had been recorded during October, among the highest monthly counts. He warned that Iranian aerial attacks and possible mines remained threats, said he could not assure vessels of safe passage and advised ships to avoid Hormuz.

CAS recorded 24 Hormuz crossings on 30 October, 28 on 31 October and 17 on 1 November. Outbound crude movements during that period included Bahri and Sinokor-operated VLCCs. The Suezmax tankers Tilos I, Ottoman Equity and Cronus also passed outbound carrying Gulf crude to India. Among inbound vessels were Bahri’s Kassab and Gold Shine, the Trafigura-linked Kiku and ADNOC’s Al Adlah, according to CAS assessments.

Red Sea traffic also increased. Bab al-Mandab recorded 1,196 crossings in October, against 1,154 in September, with tanker movements broadly steady at 408 versus 404. Northbound transits climbed to 647 from 578, accounting for about 54% of the monthly total. Saudi-linked movements through the strait nevertheless fell sharply, dropping to 21 from 52, according to the CAS figures reported by Hellenic Shipping News.