BUSINESS

Shipping Traffic Edges Up in Strait of Hormuz

Published: Apr. 8, 2026 6:35 p.m. GMT+8

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A cargo ship sails through the Arabian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz on March 27, 2026. Photo: VCG

A small but growing number of ships are making it through the Strait of Hormuz, offering a fragile sign of recovery in one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints even as the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict drags on and traffic remains far below normal.

The Global Vivian, a Vietnamese-owned liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, exited the Persian Gulf through the “safe corridor” established by Iran on April 7, making Vietnam the second Southeast Asian country after Thailand to have a vessel successfully navigate the restricted waterway.

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Limited ships transiting Strait of Hormuz via Iran's safe corridor amid U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict; Vietnamese LPG tanker Global Vivian succeeded.
Traffic hit post-war high: 77 vessels (4.3M dwt) Mar 30-Apr 5, up 93%/84% WoW, but 90% below pre-war; daily transits fell below 10 vessels Apr 6-7.
Backlog: 2,466 ships (56.1M dwt) stranded; vessels from China, France, Greece, etc.; Oman preps alternative route.

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Who’s Who

COSCO Shipping Technology Co. Ltd.: COSCO Shipping Technology Co. Ltd.’s digital platform reported that between March 30 and April 5, 77 vessels carrying 4.3 million dwt transited the Strait of Hormuz, up 93% and 84% from the previous week. On April 2 alone, 12 ships totaling 1.3 million dwt passed through.

Cosco Shipping Lines: On March 30, two 20,000-TEU container ships operated by Cosco Shipping Lines successfully passed through Iran’s “safe corridor” in the Strait of Hormuz and exited the Persian Gulf. Tankers from related China COSCO Shipping Corp. Ltd. are among those stranded near UAE’s Nasr oil field. (Data sourced from COSCO Shipping Technology platform.)

Asyad Shipping: On April 2, Oman’s state-owned Asyad Shipping operated a convoy of two 300,000-ton crude carriers and one 140,000-cubic-meter LNG vessel through a new passage near Oman’s coastline in the Strait of Hormuz, outside Iran’s safe corridor. (42 words)

CMA CGM: On April 3, CMA CGM Kribi, a 5,500-TEU container ship operated by France’s CMA CGM, became the first vessel from a Western European country to pass through the Strait of Hormuz via Iran’s safe corridor. It broadcast “Owner France” on its AIS signal, suggesting French authorities secured Iranian approval.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.: Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. reported that two of its associated ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz via Iran’s safe corridor. An international maritime consultant noted these vessels were operated by Omani and Indian entities, which handled negotiations. (42 words)

Nanjing Ocean Shipping Co. Ltd.: Nanjing Ocean Shipping Co. Ltd. has ships stranded at the Hulaylah anchorage in the U.A.E., among Chinese and Indian vessels in the massive Persian Gulf backlog of 2,466 ships (56.1 million dwt) due to Strait of Hormuz restrictions.

Nanjing Jinxipu Co. Ltd.: Nanjing Jinxipu Co. Ltd. has ships stranded at the Hulaylah anchorage in the U.A.E., among Chinese and Indian vessels in a backlog of 2,466 ships totaling 56.1 million dwt in the Persian Gulf.

China COSCO Shipping Corp. Ltd.: China COSCO Shipping Corp. Ltd. has tankers stranded in waters near the UAE’s Nasr oil field, amid a backlog of 2,466 ships totaling 56.1 million dwt in the Persian Gulf. Data on strait transits was sourced from COSCO Shipping Technology Co. Ltd.’s platform. (48 words)

AI generated, for reference only