1,300 commercial vessels transited Strait of Hormuz since May 2026: US CentCom
CentCom says 660 million barrels moved via protected southern corridor since May
US forces have assisted approximately 1,300 commercial vessels in transiting the Strait of Hormuz since early May 2026, enabling the movement of more than 660 million barrels of crude oil, the Central Command (CentCom) reported on Friday.
Recent activity implies an average of roughly 7 million barrels per day (bpd) over the past three weeks (approximately 160 million barrels since the previous CentCom update of ~500 million barrels as of late July).
This remains well below pre-war levels of about 20 million bpd of crude oil and petroleum products that historically passed through the strait.
US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a CentCom spokesperson, stated: “Multiple routes remain free and open for commercial transit.”
Get it: Fast, verified news for FREE ... download the Gulf News app — simply click here
CentCom has issued progressive updates on assisted traffic (e.g., ~800 vessels / 380 million barrels by early July; ~1,000 vessels / 500 million barrels by late July).
The latest figures continue this trend of gradual recovery in escorted volumes.
Disruptions to oil trade
The current situation stems from a major regional conflict that escalated in late February 2026 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Iran responded with attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. interests, effectively disrupting normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint that previously handled roughly one-fifth of global oil supply.
In response:
The United States has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports while prioritizing freedom of navigation for non-Iranian commercial traffic.
US forces have conducted escort and protection operations primarily along the southern corridor near the Omani coast (rather than the Iranian-controlled northern side).
Vessels often transit at night, sometimes with transponders disabled, under protection from US warships, aircraft, helicopters, and interceptors against Iranian drones, missiles, and small boats.
At least some ships have still been hit despite these efforts.
Supporting data and differing estimates
US official figures: Recent flows cited by CentCom and some administration officials have ranged higher (e.g., Energy Secretary Chris Wright previously noted nearly 9 million bpd on a seven-day average; other US sources have referenced ~10 million bpd in recent weeks).
Private maritime trackers (e.g., Windward, Kpler): Generally lower, showing crude exports through Hormuz averaging around 1.6 million bpd in May, rising to ~4 million in June and ~5 million in July, with expectations of further increases in August. Confirmed visible transits often lag U.S. claims, partly because many escorted ships operate “dark” (AIS off).
Alternative export routes have partially offset the shortfall:
Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline to Yanbu (Red Sea) has been heavily utilized.
UAE’s Habshan-Fujairah pipeline bypasses the strait entirely.
These, combined with stock releases and production adjustments elsewhere, have limited the global supply shock, though total Middle East outflows remain constrained relative to pre-war baselines.
Implications
Brent crude was trading near $95 per barrel around the time of the CentCom Friday update.
While assisted flows and bypasses have helped prevent even steeper price spikes, volumes remain substantially below the pre-conflict norm of ~15–20 million bpd of crude and products.
The operation underscores US efforts to maintain freedom of navigation and mitigate energy market disruption while applying economic pressure on Iran via the port blockade.
Iranian forces continue to assert influence over northern routes and have threatened or attacked vessels, creating an ongoing contested environment.
Some commercial operators remain cautious due to insurance costs, residual mine threats, and intermittent escalations.
The data highlight both the effectiveness of the escort mission in keeping some oil flowing and the persistent constraints imposed by the broader Iran conflict.
Private tracking data suggest actual volumes may be somewhat lower than military tallies, reflecting the challenges of monitoring “dark” shipping in a contested waterway.
