Strait of Hormuz Shipping Traffic Remains Minimal Despite U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has remained at a near-halt since the announcement of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, with only a handful of vessels transiting the critical waterway in the first 24 hours of the agreement. According to data from ship-tracking platforms like MarineTraffic and Kpler, just five bulk carriers had passed through the strait by Thursday, April 9, 2026, compared to the prewar average of over 100 vessels daily. S&P Global Market Intelligence reported nine vessels had transited the strait across Wednesday and Thursday, but the numbers remain far below normal levels. The limited movement has raised concerns among global energy markets, with oil prices surging above $100 a barrel as uncertainty over the strait’s reopening persisted. Analysts noted that the initial optimism about the ceasefire quickly gave way to confusion, as the U.S. and Iran failed to establish clear protocols for safe passage. Iran’s insistence that ships must secure its permission to transit the strait, along with potential fees for passage, has further complicated matters. Iran’s naval forces released a map late Wednesday outlining alternative shipping routes through the strait, directing outbound vessels to follow a path just south of Larak Island and inbound ships to take a route north of the island. A large portion of the strait, including Oman’s territorial waters, was marked as “hazardous” on the map. This designation has raised questions about the safety of the new routes and the potential presence of sea mines, which Iran has not officially confirmed.#strait_of_hormuz #us_iran_ceasefire #marine_traffic #iran_naval_forces #saeed_khatibzadeh
