LNG tankers keep sailing through Hormuz despite US-Iran clashes

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers and other commercial shipping are maintaining their passage through the Strait of Hormuz even as military hostilities between Iran and the United States have escalated following Iranian attacks on merchant vessels in the waterway. Ship-tracking data reveals that at least five LNG carriers sailing in ballast have entered the strait in recent days, including the GasLog Shanghai, operated by Greek shipping firm GasLog, along with four QatarEnergy-affiliated vessels: Al Samriya, Al Dafna, Al Gattara, and Al Rayyan. The continued movements suggest that some LNG operators are returning empty carriers to the Persian Gulf for new cargo loads despite the deteriorating security environment, reflecting the strategic importance of the route for global energy supplies.

Vessel traffic data reveals sustained activity

Maritime intelligence firm Windward recorded 35 vessel crossings on July 8, comprising 17 inbound and 18 outbound transits. Inbound traffic included six tankers, two bulk carriers, and nine general cargo vessels, while outbound movements featured five tankers, five bulk carriers, and eight cargo vessels. Most ships utilized the northern corridor closer to Iranian territorial waters, with 11 vessels operating without Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals during the monitoring window, a practice often associated with risk mitigation or operational discretion. Japanese Transport Minister Yasushi Kaneko confirmed that 22 Japan-linked vessels exited the strait between July 7 and 9, including six very large crude carriers, underscoring the continued reliance of Asian importers on this critical maritime artery.

US-Iran conflict raises commercial risks

Commercial shipping risks have risen sharply after Iranian attacks on vessels transiting the strait prompted new US strikes against targets inside Iran. Tehran subsequently launched retaliatory attacks against US-linked assets in Bahrain and Kuwait, effectively collapsing a ceasefire agreement reached last month. The US also revoked a 60-day waiver that had permitted Iranian oil sales, reinstating full sanctions enforcement at a time when Iran's crude exports were estimated at approximately 1 million barrels per day. Windward assessed that around 24 tankers were waiting near Iran's Kharg Island export terminals, with most believed to be fully laden, suggesting that Iranian oil exports continue despite the renewed sanctions regime.

Strategic waterway remains vital for global energy

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, remains one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, carrying oil and LNG exports from major Gulf producers including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar. Approximately 20 percent of global seaborne oil trade passes through the strait, making any sustained disruption a matter of international concern.