At least 20 oil tankers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Iran began reopening the seaway to commercial maritime traffic, according to trade intelligence firm Kpler.
Tanker transits on Thursday reached their highest level since June 2, the company said. However, traffic remains below pre-war levels, when more than 100 ships, including dozens of tankers, transited Hormuz daily.
A total of 25 ships transited Hormuz on Thursday, including cargo ships, containers and other classes of ships, in addition to oil tankers, according to Kpler. Traffic resumed after the US Navy ended its blockade of Iran, while Tehran allows ships to pass through Hormuz for 60 days without paying tolls.
US Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Thursday that the Iranians were “honoring their commitment so far.”
“Traffic was generally balanced, with 13 crossings moving west to east and 12 east to west,” said Matt Smith, Kpler’s director of commodities research.
Three supertankers of Saudi Arabia and one from the United Arab Emirates crossed into Hormuz on Thursday, according to Kpler. These enormous ships, called very large crude carriers, or VLCCs, can carry up to 2 million barrels of oil.
Iranian supertankers are turning on their transponders after dark during war, Kpler analysts told clients in a Friday note. Five Iranian supertankers laden with oil were seen leaving the region on Friday, analysts said.
“Bi-directional vessel flows suggest that Iranian crude trade is gradually returning to normal operational patterns,” the analysts said.
Eighteen ships that crossed Thursday followed Iran’s designated route to pass through Hormuz, according to Kpler. Only one ship took the route defined by the International Maritime Organization. The routes taken by six ships could not be confirmed, Kpler said.
The US-Iran deal has raised questions about how Hormuz will be governed. After the end of the 60-day free call period, Iran will begin negotiations with Oman and the Gulf states on how to administer the strait, according to the ministry. terms of the agreement. This appears to leave open the possibility that tolls could be imposed in the future.