The Strait of Hormuz is still seeing limited vessel traffic despite the war with Iran, while Tehran continues exporting millions of barrels of oil through the passage, according to the Associated Press!
Data from maritime and trade platforms show that about 90 ships crossed the strait between March 1 and March 15, including 16 oil tankers, compared with around 100 to 135 daily transits before the war began!
Lloyd’s List Intelligence said part of this traffic included so-called dark transits by vessels evading Western sanctions and oversight, some of which are believed to be linked to Iran, while ships tied to India and Pakistan also managed to pass after government-level contacts and negotiations!
This comes even as most shipping traffic through the strait has been halted since early March, after around 20 vessels were attacked in the area, in a waterway that carries about one-fifth of global crude oil supplies!
According to Kpler data, Iran has exported more than 16 million barrels of oil since the beginning of March, with China remaining a major buyer of Iranian crude under Western sanctions!
The Associated Press also said oil prices have jumped by more than 40% to above $100 a barrel since the war began, while U.S. President Donald Trump pressured allies and trade partners to send warships and reopen the strait in an effort to bring prices down!
Analysts say the strait has not been fully closed, but is instead operating selectively, allowing Iran’s oil exports and a limited number of non-Iranian movements to continue under narrow conditions and diplomatic arrangements!
