Vessels trickle through Strait of Hormuz as Middle East conflict persists

AI Summary

Commodity vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz have sharply declined due to ongoing Gulf tensions between the US and Iran. Despite reduced visible traffic, Middle Eastern oil exports continue discreetly using tankers with transponders off.

By Florence Tan SINGAPORE, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A dozen commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on the weekend, down from 35 the prior weekend, shipping data showed on Monday, as tension in the Gulf persisted with the US and Iran in stalemate. Visible traffic through the strait, the conduit for a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas before the war, has dwindled to a trickle. However, Middle Eastern producers continue to export oil on tankers travelling with their transponders off.