Hormuz shipping status
Updated
What it is
This indicator tracks daily vessel and tanker transits through the Strait of Hormuz, typically measured from AIS ship-tracking data, to monitor normalization versus disruption of a chokepoint that normally carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil. Sustained drops in transit counts signal effective closure or severe risk aversion by shippers.
Why it matters lately
Hormuz transits collapsed from roughly 130/day in the days before the Feb. 28, 2026 war onset to about 5% of normal levels (roughly 25 transits over four days) by March 4, 2026. By August-September 2026, transits remained down about 90% versus 2025 levels (around 9.9 ships/day versus 103.2/day a year earlier), with daily crossings still in the single digits.
Asymmetric Analytics view
Inference (AA): AA uses persistently depressed Hormuz throughput as its primary real-time confirmation signal for the Energy ELSI and Persian Gulf Energy ELSI composites.