Escalating tensions and new sanctions lists in the Strait of Hormuz are cutting vessel traffic, pushing up insurance and bunker surcharges, and increasing operational risks for container services connecting Persian Gulf ports with global trades.
Amid the latest escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, regional authorities have tightened restrictions on a number of vessels by issuing updated lists of sanctioned tankers and commodity carriers, which has already led to a marked drop in daily transits through the chokepoint. International and sectoral outlets report that over the weekend commodity vessel traffic fell to single‑digit numbers per day, compared with a 10‑day average of around 14 ships. At the same time, talks over ensuring free passage have stalled, and military activity in the area has intensified, adding further uncertainty for shipping companies and their customers. In response, shipowners and insurers are reassessing risk parameters, directly affecting the structure of freight rates and surcharges applied to voyages through the Persian Gulf.
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