A total of 25 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, marking the highest daily figure since mid-April, according to maritime tracking data, as shipping activity rebounded following a U.S.-Iran agreement to reopen the strategic waterway.
The spike came after Tehran and Washington agreed to restore passage through the chokepoint as part of a broader effort to wind down regional hostilities. “We observed 25 verified commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz — the highest daily number since April 18 and more than five times the average daily level recorded during the first 10 days of June,” maritime analytics firm AXSMarine said in a report cited by AFP.
Before the conflict, about 120 ships a day typically passed through the strait, according to shipping journal Lloyd’s List. Economists estimate that roughly one-fifth of global oil exports and liquefied natural gas shipments normally flow through the passage.
Since the onset of hostilities, traffic collapsed sharply. AXSMarine reported an average of just 7.6 vessels per day transiting since early March after Iran effectively closed the strait following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered the conflict on Feb. 28, 2026. Maritime authorities later reported dozens of attacks on vessels in the area.
Iran briefly reopened the waterway for limited commercial traffic in April, leading to a short-lived spike in crossings on April 18. The latest increase followed the Iran-U.S. agreement to restore access, though maritime conditions remain uncertain after planned follow-up talks in Switzerland were canceled.
AXSMarine cautioned that actual vessel movements may be higher than recorded, as some ships reportedly disable or manipulate automatic identification system (AIS) signals to avoid detection while transiting the strait. The firm said Thursday’s surge coincided with the largest AIS disruption observed in the Persian Gulf since the conflict began.
“The surge occurred amid the largest AIS signal disruption we have seen in the Persian Gulf since the conflict started, with more than 200 commercial vessels simultaneously affected by spoofing or abnormal AIS behavior,” AXSMarine said.
Despite the rebound in traffic, shipping industry groups warn that conditions remain too unstable for a full normalization of maritime flows through the strait. They say coordinated international mechanisms will likely be needed to manage safe passage.
Jakob Larsen, head of security at shipping association BIMCO, said an international coordination body is expected to be established to facilitate transit operations. “We expect an international coordinating body will soon be formed to facilitate transit,” Larsen said.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has said it is developing plans to ensure safe passage for vessels trapped in the Gulf due to the conflict. The agency estimates more than 500 commercial ships remain stranded in the region, with around 11,000 seafarers onboard. In total, roughly 20,000 seafarers are believed to be affected by the crisis.
