Iran, June 12 : Global oil shipments from Persian Gulf producers have increased significantly despite continuing tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, according to data cited by Bloomberg on Friday.
Data from Vortexa Ltd. showed that non-Iranian oil flows through the strategic waterway averaged at least 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) during the first 10 days of June, marking a sharp increase from approximately 1.2 million bpd recorded in May. Analysts noted that the figures could be revised upward as additional tanker movements are identified through satellite tracking.
The rebound comes as Gulf exporters adopt alternative operating methods to maintain crude deliveries amid regional instability. In contrast, Iranian shipments have remained largely absent from the route as the US blockade continues to restrict Tehran’s oil exports.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained a focal point of the US-Iran conflict since military operations began earlier this year. While Iran has sought to tighten oversight of maritime traffic, industry observers say the growing use of untracked voyages is reducing the effectiveness of those measures.
“Transiting through the strait without AIS signals has become the new norm,” Xavier Tang, senior market analyst at Vortexa, told Bloomberg, referring to the tracking systems vessels typically use to broadcast their positions.
Despite the recent increase, overall volumes remain far below the roughly 20 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products that moved through the corridor before the conflict escalated.
Market reaction has also become more subdued. Brent crude prices showed little movement after Iranian authorities again declared the waterway closed, a stark contrast to the sharp surge seen during the first disruption earlier in the conflict.
Bloomberg reported that traders may be drawing confidence from claims by US President Donald Trump that a confidential operation helped facilitate the movement of around 100 million barrels of oil through the passage since May.
Additional factors, including softer crude demand from China and releases from strategic reserves, have helped push oil prices nearly one-third below the peaks reached during the height of the crisis.
Although regional energy infrastructure has largely avoided direct damage, uncertainty remains over future shipping conditions. Traders are closely monitoring vessel movements following Iran’s latest warning over access to the strait.
Meanwhile, the United States has intensified enforcement efforts against vessels suspected of attempting to reach Iranian ports. US Central Command said it recently disabled two ships in the Gulf of Oman allegedly trying to breach the blockade, while another vessel suffered an engine-room fire on Thursday.