International News: Traffic in Strait of Hormuz slows as uncertainty over waterway persists

By Zoila Palma: Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed today as uncertainty continued over the status of the key waterway following a blockade during the Iran war.

Vessel-tracking data showed that many shipowners remained reluctant to use the strait amid conflicting signals about whether it has fully reopened to shipping, Reuters report.

Kpler data showed that six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday by 0258 GMT, down from nine the previous day and below the 10-day daily average of 11. The vessels included an empty very large crude carrier that traveled along the Omani side of the waterway, as well as two tankers entering the strait and two medium-range fuel tankers and a post-Panamax vessel exiting.

The uncertainty follows conflicting statements from U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran over the status of the waterway. Trump said Tuesday that no talks were underway with Iran and insisted the Strait of Hormuz was open, while Iran maintained that the waterway remained closed to shipping.

The Strait of Hormuz previously handled about one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

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