Oil and gas shipping resumes in Strait of Hormuz

Monday 25 May 2026 - 10:28

By: Dakir Madiha

Oil and gas shipping resumes in Strait of Hormuz

Commercial maritime traffic carrying crude oil and liquefied natural gas has begun to move again through the Strait of Hormuz after months of severe disruption. The passage of several tankers marks the clearest sign yet of a partial recovery in one of the world’s most sensitive energy corridors following prolonged instability in the region.

A large crude carrier transporting nearly 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah oil has exited the strait after being immobilised for months. Maritime tracking data indicate the vessel loaded its cargo in late February and remained delayed as tensions escalated in the Gulf. The shipment is now en route to China, reflecting a gradual return of long-distance energy flows through the chokepoint.

Two liquefied natural gas carriers have also transited the waterway. One vessel, loaded in Qatar, is heading toward Pakistan, while another, operated under Qatari ownership, has left the strait carrying LNG bound for China. These movements signal that gas exports are also cautiously resuming after a prolonged pause in regional shipping operations.

Before the disruption, the Strait of Hormuz handled more than one hundred vessels daily, making it one of the busiest and most strategic energy transit routes in the world. Industry monitoring shows that current traffic remains far below historical norms, with shipping companies still operating under tight security conditions and restricted routing arrangements. Analysts warn that a full return to pre-crisis levels will depend on sustained stability across the Gulf and could take an extended period.

Despite the recent increase in transits, maritime activity remains limited in scale. Only a small number of large tankers have been cleared to pass through the corridor, while dozens of vessels remain anchored or delayed in the wider Gulf region. Energy markets continue to watch the route closely as even minor disruptions in Hormuz can quickly affect global oil and gas supply chains.