Hormuz tanker crossings drop to lowest level in more than two months according to latest data

Single tanker transited the Strait of Hormuz on July 23 compared to three the previous day based on Kpler analytics firm information as vessels divert to considerably longer paths.

The count of tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz declined sharply to only one on Thursday marking the lowest figure since May 7 according to ship tracking information amid persistent shipping hazards across the Middle East and with oil prices climbing back toward 100 dollars per barrel.

Precisely one tanker made the crossing through the Strait of Hormuz on July 23 down from three the day before as shown by data from the analytics firm Kpler.

The very large crude carrier New Giant carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah crude departed the strait on Thursday and is expected to reach China's Rizhao port by mid-August.

No vessels entered the Strait of Hormuz on July 23.

The US military announced late on Thursday that it had finished a 13th straight night of strikes on Iran.

Bab el-Mandeb crossings rise

At the same time crossings by commodity tankers at the Bab el-Mandeb strait reached 32 on July 23 increasing from 26 the previous day according to Kpler data.

Among these 14 tankers were heading into the Red Sea while 18 were leaving the strait toward the Gulf of Aden.

Of the 18 tankers exiting Bab el-Mandeb nine carried crude oil including two Chinese supertankers loaded and destined for China.

In a separate development the clean tanker Torm Innovation carrying roughly 500000 barrels of naphtha for Asia adjusted course slightly toward the Suez Canal exit rather than the usual Bab el-Mandeb path as indicated by Kpler and LSEG ship tracking information.

Diverting vessels through the Suez Canal route to Asia instead of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait may extend the journey by nearly three times according to regional trade sources.

Saudi Aramco has begun offering extra crude cargoes for loading at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir to bypass its Red Sea ports.