Strait of Hormuz
StraitIran · Oman
The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, between Iran and Oman. It is about 39 km wide at its narrowest point, with two designated traffic lanes.
Why the Strait of Hormuz matters
The Strait of Hormuz is best known as the world’s most critical oil chokepoint — around a fifth of global petroleum passes through it — but it also carries every container service calling the Persian Gulf hubs such as Jebel Ali, Dubai and Dammam. There is no maritime alternative for Gulf ports, so any tension in the strait translates directly into war-risk premiums, insurance costs and rerouting decisions for the region’s supply chains.
Safecube gives you door-to-door visibility on container shipments, with live vessel positions and predictive ETAs on every trade lane.
Major shipping routes via the Strait of Hormuz
575 of our covered port-to-port routes transit the Strait of Hormuz. The most significant ones, ranked by carrier coverage at both ends:
| Route | Distance |
|---|---|
| Shanghai Port of Dubai | 5,702 nm |
| Shanghai Jebel Ali | 5,710 nm |
| Hamburg Port of Dubai | 6,524 nm |
| Hamburg Jebel Ali | 6,532 nm |
| Antwerpen Port of Dubai | 6,251 nm |
| Antwerpen Jebel Ali | 6,259 nm |
| Qingdao Port of Dubai | 5,966 nm |
| Shanghai Abu Dhabi | 5,800 nm |
| Qingdao Jebel Ali | 5,974 nm |
| Hong Kong Port of Dubai | 4,927 nm |
| Hong Kong Jebel Ali | 4,935 nm |
| Ningbo Port of Dubai | 5,588 nm |
| Shanghai Bahrain | 5,922 nm |
| Shanghai Bahrain | 5,922 nm |
| Hamburg Abu Dhabi | 6,622 nm |
Frequently asked questions
What does the Strait of Hormuz connect?
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Bordering countries: Iran, Oman.
How many shipping routes use the Strait of Hormuz?
Among the 4950 port-to-port routes covered by Seadex, 575 transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz strategically important?
The Strait of Hormuz is best known as the world’s most critical oil chokepoint — around a fifth of global petroleum passes through it — but it also carries every container service calling the Persian Gulf hubs such as Jebel Ali, Dubai and Dammam. There is no maritime alternative for Gulf ports, so any tension in the strait translates directly into war-risk premiums, insurance costs and rerouting decisions for the region’s supply chains.