Even as the US and Iran huddle for their 60-day negotiation period amid a ceasefire in hostilities, the traffic flowing from the one of the most important global chokepoints – Strait of Hormuz – has only
been low, data tracked by global merchandise trade monitoring agency Kpler showed. Moreover, most of the traffic has been flowing from the East to the West.
Experts, according to several media reports, had suggested it will take time for global trade, even in crude oil, to return to normal volumes following a break in hostilities.
Now, this data provided by Kpler makes this trend evident. The agency tracked six verified crossings in the Strait of Hormuz.
It found traffic to be largely following the established Iranian coastal passage routes.
Kpler is a data and analytics company that tracks global trade flows, commodities market, and energy markets. Using satellites and other sources, it gathers real-time data, including on oil and gas shipments, to understand who is importing and exporting what and where.
Verified crossings still at historic lows
As of 17 June, Kpler observed six verified crossings across the monitored zone. Traffic was weighted east to west, and most vessels followed established Iranian coastal passage routes. One sanctioned vessel, Ostria, was identified… pic.twitter.com/SBo6tF7sFP
— Kpler (@Kpler) June 18, 2026
“No additional physical attacks have been confirmed since 10 May,” the agency said in a tweet posted on X. It further said that the risk situation in the strait has remained unchanged, which means traders and insurers remain just as weary of goods traveling through the strait as they had been when the US and Iran were exchanging heavy military blows against each other.
“While transit activity continues, relatively low crossing volumes indicate that shipping patterns remain cautious rather than fully restored,” the agency said.
Even though the US and Israel were able to easily overpower Iran militarily during their over three-months long war, the Islamic Republic proved far more resilient than previously believed majorly because of their ability to control the Strait of Hormuz. It is through this strait that around 20 percent of the global oil trade flows.
Countries of the East depend upon this route for their oil imports.
With the oil supplies disrupted for the East, prices went up everywhere. Even in America. It was this economic and geopolitical stranglehold that ensured Iran remained strong going into the negotiation phase.
After the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran, the latter has gained much. The blockade of Iranian ports has been lifted, sanctions on its economy will be removed, and its assets frozen in the West will be freed.
A major concession that the US has got is that Iran will negotiate with it with regards to what has to be done with its stockpile of enriched uranium.
Even with all this, peace remains precarious in West Asia with several volatile elements. Not the least of them being the state of Israel.
“The only thing that is in the middle between us and Lebanon being in peace is Iran. If Hezbollah operated by Iran, directed by Iran, will keep being a threat on Israel and Israel’s citizens. We will react regardless of any agreement between any other two countries,” Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to India Fares Saeb said, in an interaction with ANI on Thursday.
