Shipping traffic through Strait of Hormuz drops as peace talks stall

On Monday, August 10, 2026, daily shipping traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz plummeted to only six vessels, down from a 10-day average of approximately 11. Data provided by Kpler on Tuesday indicates that four commodity vessels entered the waterway, including two empty oil tankers, while two ships exited, including one carrying liquefied petroleum gas and another with residual fuels. These figures represent a significant decline from pre-war levels, when 130 to 140 ships typically transited the strait daily.

The sharp reduction in traffic coincides with fading prospects for a peace deal between the United States and Iran. Following the collapse of a preliminary agreement signed in June, President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s demands for an end to sanctions, instead issuing counter-demands for compensation regarding war-related deaths and protests. Meanwhile, transit through the Bab el-Mandeb strait remained relatively stable at 25 vessels, consistent with the recent 10-day average of 24, suggesting the current maritime disruption is largely concentrated in the Persian Gulf region.