Shipments are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to security concerns and recent attacks on commercial vessels, disrupting cargo operations. Cargo from South Africa and exports from the Middle East are experiencing delays, with vessels held at anchor or transshipping at Jebel Ali. Alternative land-bridge routes are being considered but face logistical challenges.
Commercial shipping traffic around the Strait of Hormuz remains limited amid uncertainty regarding a potential US-Iran ceasefire. Several vessels are moving from the Arabian Gulf towards the Gulf of Oman, and some have appeared in sanctions-related databases. The US CENTCOM has directed 31 vessels to halt their operations near Iranian ports and intercepted two Iranian oil tankers attempting to evade the blockade.