Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz increases as vessels resume broadcasting satellite signals

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is recovering as shipowners regain confidence and resume broadcasting satellite signals. Although daily transits remain below the pre-war average of 100 ships, seven tankers crossed on June 23, 2026. The recovery follows months of stagnation after a February 28, 2026 U.S.-Israeli attack prompted Iranian strikes, toll demands, and potential mining, which drove U.S. gas prices above $4 per gallon in March.

Strait of Hormuz traffic recovery

• ▪Seven tankers, including two fully-laden non-Iranian supertankers, were transiting or had crossed the Strait of Hormuz on June 23, 2026
• ▪Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is increasing after months of stagnation, though it remains below pre-war levels of over 100 daily ships

Iran toll demands

• ▪Iran demanded tolls from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz following a United States-Israeli military attack on February 28, 2026
• ▪Iran launched military strikes on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of the February 28, 2026 United States-Israeli attack

Iranian blockade operations

• ▪Tehran suggested that Iranian forces may have mined the Strait of Hormuz, which previously carried approximately 20% of global oil and natural gas
• ▪Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy published a map suggesting safe inbound and outbound routes through the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. gas price impacts

• ▪United States gas prices declined temporarily in April 2026 before reaching new record highs in May 2026
• ▪United States gas prices spiked by more than 40% in March 2026, averaging over $4 per gallon due to the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz

Vessel GPS signal broadcasting

• ▪Some vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz manipulate their GPS trackers during transit, which may make actual traffic counts higher than tracked data
• ▪An increasing number of ships are transiting the Strait of Hormuz with their satellite signals switched on, indicating growing confidence among shipowners