HORMUZ TRANSITS STAY LOW AS BAB EL-MANDEB TRAFFIC FALLS

Developing story: Vessel counts, transponder behavior, insurance rates and shipping advisories may change as the U.S.-Iran and Red Sea situations develop.

Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained depressed on Wednesday as the U.S.-Iran stalemate continued, while traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait fell further, according to Reuters reporting based on Kpler ship-tracking data. The figures show that the region’s maritime stress is no longer confined to one chokepoint.

Kpler data showed nine commodity vessel transits through Hormuz on Wednesday, unchanged from Tuesday. That level remains far below normal commercial movement through a waterway that carried a major share of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the war. The data may undercount ships moving with transponders off, but the visible pattern still points to severely reduced confidence.

The Bab el-Mandeb route weakened at the same time. Reuters reported that 27 commodity vessels passed through the strait on Wednesday, down from 32 on Tuesday. That waterway links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is critical for traffic between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The simultaneous pressure on Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb is important because shippers usually manage risk by changing routes. If one corridor becomes dangerous, cargo may be delayed, rerouted or insured at a higher cost. If two major corridors are unstable, options narrow and the cost of moving energy and goods can rise quickly.

The political dispute around Hormuz remains unresolved. Trump said this week that the strait was open, while Iran said it remained shut. The shipping data suggest a more complicated reality: some vessels are moving, but not enough to describe normal commercial conditions. Markets, insurers and captains respond to practical risk more than official slogans.

The Bab el-Mandeb slowdown reflects the continuing role of Yemen’s Houthis and wider Red Sea risk. Attacks on commercial vessels, port disruptions and threats against Saudi-linked shipping have made the route more expensive and less predictable. That adds pressure to Gulf exporters already dealing with Hormuz uncertainty.

For oil and gas buyers, the numbers matter because delayed shipments affect refinery schedules, inventories and prices. For governments, they matter because fuel costs and inflation can become domestic political liabilities before diplomats resolve the underlying conflict.

What is confirmed is that visible commodity-vessel traffic through Hormuz stayed at nine transits on Wednesday and Bab el-Mandeb traffic fell to 27. What remains unresolved is whether the low levels represent a temporary caution by shipowners or a longer adjustment to a region where two major maritime routes are now under stress.

Fact-check date: August 20, 2026. Article type: News. Sources: Reuters; Kpler. Developing note: Vessel counts, transponder behavior, insurance rates and shipping advisories may change as the U.S.-Iran and Red Sea situations develop.