Liquefied petroleum gas and oil tankers anchored at sea. War has slashed tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and other global choke points, and the oil that is still moving is taking longer, costlier routes. (Shutterstock/GreenOak)

How War Is Choking Global Oil Tanker Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and Beyond

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Gulf crude exports have recovered, but tanker traffic through Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea remains far below normal, at a steep cost.

Recent reports that crude oil flows have been restored should be read with care. They include crude routed around the Strait of Hormuz, not only crude moving through it. The Energy Policy Research Foundation (EPRINC) examined this distinction in its March 30, 2026, Chart of the Week (2026-14), “Strait of Hormuz Closure: The Arithmetic of the Crude Shortfall after Five Weeks of Policy.” Shipping data through Hormuz and other key choke points show how far traffic remains from normal.

Why Gulf Oil Exports Have........

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