Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz Remains Elevated Despite Renewed Strikes

• Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has remained elevated despite renewed U.S.-Iran strikes over the weekend and seems at least partially unfazed by the stop-and-start peace talks. 
• According to independent traffic service MarineTraffic, three container vessels entered the Persian Gulf over the weekend, a significant sign of confidence as they represent the first commercial container ships to make the journey in that direction since the start of the conflict. A total of 108 verified crossings were recorded between June 26 and 28, representing only a modest slowdown from the previous week.
• Although recent attacks, including an Iranian strike on an oil tanker and subsequent U.S. strikes on 10 Iranian military targets near the Strait, tested the fragile ceasefire, commercial shipping continued. Notwithstanding, shipping traffic remains well below the above 100 ships that crossed the strait daily before the war.
• The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre has advised vessels to transit with caution. Shippers have been using multiple routes along both Oman's and Iran's coastlines to maintain transit through the waterway. In addition, two empty supertankers entered the Persian Gulf, while several Saudi vessels successfully made the passage.
• The White House remained optimistic, with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett noting on Monday, June 29, 2026, that shipping traffic could soon return to more than 100 ships per day, helping to ease price pressures globally.
• The willingness of tanker companies and their crews to navigate Hormuz is critical to returning the global oil market to normal and unlocking millions of barrels of supply. A sustained recovery in traffic through the Strait could help support global energy supplies and reduce upward pressure on oil prices if diplomatic efforts continue.

(Sources: Yahoo Finance & Bloomberg)