09:40 - 19.08.2026

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August 19, Fineko/abc.az. Vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz slowed on Wednesday due to ongoing uncertainty over when and how the waterway will fully reopen following the wartime blockade.

According to data from tracking firm Kpler, six commodity vessels transited the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the previous day and below the 10-day daily average of 11.

While US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that no talks were taking place with Iran and insisted the Strait of Hormuz remained open, Iran maintains that the critical waterway is closed to maritime traffic.

Prior to the war, approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Heightened security concerns have also led two major Chinese shipping lines to keep their tankers away from both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb since late July. Before the conflict, these companies carried about half of China’s oil imports from the Middle East.