One crude oil tanker, four liquefied petroleum gas carriers, two oil and chemical tankers, and one oil products vessel passed through the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday, according to data from Kpler. The movement followed Iran's Friday afternoon announcement that it would reopen the strategic waterway, which had been effectively closed since February 28 after US and Israeli strikes triggered a war and led to a blockade by Iranian forces. Normally, around 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas moves through the strait, but traffic had nearly halted during the conflict. MarineTraffic data showed several other crude oil tankers approaching the strait but turning back near Iran's Larak Island, where vessels have been required to stop under the Iranian blockade. On Saturday, Iran's central military command declared it would resume "strict management" of the strait, reversing the reopening in protest against a US naval counter-blockade. The closure has left hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf, while global oil prices and shipping costs have risen amid widespread avoidance of the region due to risks of attacks or sea mines. At least three of the vessels that exited on Saturday were under US sanctions. Some ships listed India or China as their destination, signaling neutrality.
Iran reopened the strait only hours before resuming strict control, creating confusion that benefits no shipper with cargo to deliver. Vessels flying neutral destinations like India or China while under US sanctions expose the fragility of compliance in high-risk zones. Nigerian importers relying on Gulf-sourced fuels face higher costs without clarity on passage stability. This stop-start control deepens uncertainty for African buyers already navigating inflated shipping quotes.
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