Oil flows remain constrained at 6 million barrels this week, far below pre-conflict levels of 14 million barrels daily.
Iran’s overnight attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz prompted the UN’s International Maritime Organisation to pause its evacuation plan, freezing the tally of 57 successfully cleared vessels. Ship tracking data shows traffic has risen this week, but uncertainty persists as Iran maintains tight control over the waterway, its key negotiating leverage with the U.S.
Before the conflict, roughly 14 million barrels of oil transited the strait daily. Current flows have reached only 6 million barrels this week, a partial recovery from near-zero levels during the evacuation. Analysts question whether volumes can rise further without a broader de-escalation.
Oil prices edged higher following the incident, reflecting concerns over supply stability in the critical chokepoint.