Stay on top of port closures, security incidents, congestion events and freight rate movements impacting global shipping. Updated continuously from verified industry sources.
A fatal accident at the Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT) within India's JNPA port caused operations to be suspended after empty containers fell from a vessel during heavy rain and strong winds, killing one worker and seriously injuring another. The temporary shutdown is expected to disrupt container-handling operations while an investigation and root-cause analysis are conducted.
Qatar has extended its force majeure suspension of LNG shipments from Ras Laffan until mid-August, with liquefaction units expected to resume only in early September, causing ongoing disruption to LNG exports through the Strait of Hormuz. The first Qatari LNG tanker has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz with AIS activated amid easing tensions, but full recovery of damaged facilities will take significantly longer.
Multiple Japanese-linked supertankers previously stranded in the Persian Gulf are now exiting the Strait of Hormuz, with 16 million barrels of Middle East crude aboard Japan-bound vessels departing this week, signaling a partial resumption of oil flows through the strait. Japan's crude imports had slumped to a 60-year low after Gulf supplies fell 68% year-on-year following the outbreak of conflict with Iran in February 2026, but supply is now expected to rebound in July as stranded vessels clear the strait and Saudi Arabia resumes loadings at Ras Tanura.
Ten Japan-linked vessels, including six VLCCs carrying 12 million barrels of Middle Eastern crude, are exiting the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded for months following a U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran that shut down this critical waterway. Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to recover following an interim peace agreement, though the strait's status remains contested between the U.S. and Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz, previously disrupted during the U.S.-Iran war, reopened on June 17, 2026, allowing 15 fertiliser ships to transit toward Indian ports, with 5 more expected to follow in the coming days. This signals the end of a significant maritime disruption in one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints.
The Strait of Hormuz is gradually reopening to tanker traffic following disruptions caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which had previously halted oil exports from key OPEC+ members including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Shipping through Hormuz is bouncing back, though tanker traffic and oil output remain below pre-war levels as OPEC+ announces a new output increase of 188,000 bpd from August.
The 2026 Allianz Safety and Shipping Review highlights machinery failure as the dominant cause of shipping incidents globally, compounded by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following a US-Iran confrontation in early 2026, which has trapped over 1,500 vessels in the Persian Gulf with severe maintenance disruptions. These combined factors are expected to cause prolonged machinery breakdowns, port congestion, and significant supply chain disruptions across the Persian Gulf region and beyond.
A fuel tanker barge exploded at the Costanera Sur mooring on the Paraguay River (Zanja H area, Asunción), killing five maintenance workers, prompting authorities to close off the surrounding area due to residual gas risk. The incident, occurring on the Paraguay-Paraná Hidrovia inland waterway, may cause localized disruptions to vessel traffic and mooring operations near Asunción while investigations and safety inspections are conducted.
Vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to a four-day low of 43 crossings on July 2, 2026, amid ongoing regional tensions, with five vessels navigating without transponders and Iran-linked vessels accounting for nearly 60% of traffic. Freight rates for crude shipments from the Persian Gulf remain significantly elevated, well above the five-year average, reflecting sustained disruption to this critical energy shipping chokepoint.
The war in Iran and Arabian Gulf energy disruptions in Q2 2026 triggered a surge in global seaborne coal flows (+6% y/y to 353.1mt) as East Asian nations scrambled for alternative power generation supply. UAE ports also became inaccessible due to the Gulf conflict, disrupting bauxite imports to the region.
The Strait of Hormuz closure (from March 2026) caused a 95% drop in transits through this critical chokepoint, severely disrupting global energy shipping before partially recovering following a US-Iran deal in late June 2026. Compounding disruptions include continued Red Sea rerouting, Panama Canal delays, and roughly 1,000 ships trapped in the Gulf, driving charter rates and freight rates to record highs across tanker, LPG, LNG, and container sectors.
China has called for unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid growing acceptance among European and Gulf Arab nations that vessels may be required to pay transit fees to Iran and Oman following the US-Israel war with Iran. The potential imposition of such fees raises concerns over disruptions to one of the world's most critical oil and gas shipping chokepoints.
Iran-U.S. peace talks have made 'positive progress,' easing concerns over supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, which had been shut for four months due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Oil tanker traffic through the Strait is resuming, with at least five supertankers carrying 10 million barrels of Saudi oil already exiting the waterway, signaling a gradual return to normal shipping operations.
The Strait of Hormuz has reopened following a crisis, but UNCTAD warns that shipping operations, logistics, and supply chains will require months to normalize, keeping transportation costs elevated. Vulnerable economies dependent on fuel, food, and fertilizer imports face prolonged economic hardship as shipping routes and energy supplies gradually stabilize.
The US and Iran have agreed to a one-week de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing indirect negotiations in Qatar, offering temporary relief for one of the world's most critical shipping lanes. However, underlying tensions remain severe, with Iran asserting authority to regulate and charge transit fees through the strait, a foreign container ship recently running aground after using an unapproved route, and Iranian officials warning they would enforce their demands by force if necessary.
Following the US-Iran MOU, vessel flows through the Strait of Hormuz are rebounding, with grain and fertiliser shipments resuming normal routing and approximately 50 fertiliser-laden vessels exiting the Middle East Gulf. South American agricultural cargoes are flowing steadily toward Iran, while GCC countries reduce their dependency on Red Sea routing for grain imports.
A restricted area will be enforced off Stonecutters Island, Hong Kong, from July 2 to July 6, 2026, due to a special event. Only government launches are permitted in the zone during this period, affecting vessel movement in the area.
A container ship has run aground in the Strait of Hormuz after reportedly transiting outside the corridor designated by Iran, posing a potential disruption to one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. The grounding may cause rerouting, delays, or traffic slowdowns in the strait until the vessel is refloated and the passage is cleared.
Tanker crossings through the Strait of Hormuz remain severely reduced at approximately 11 per day, down from a peak of 24, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, though a slight recovery in inbound traffic suggests cautious confidence returning among shipowners. QatarEnergy has extended force majeure on some LNG shipments to Asia and Europe until August, and in some cases into early September, pointing to a prolonged disruption in LNG supply flows.
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz throughout Q2 2026 has severely disrupted VLCC crude oil trade, forcing rerouting through Fujairah, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea while pushing Atlantic Basin volumes higher. No Arabian Gulf VLCC fixtures were concluded, tonnemile patterns shifted significantly, and markets remain highly volatile pending a geopolitical resolution.
The Port of La Guaira in Venezuela was temporarily closed following two magnitude 7+ earthquakes on June 24, 2026, and has been partially reopened for humanitarian relief operations with the help of 130 US Marines. However, the port has not yet been reopened to commercial shipping, causing ongoing disruption to regular maritime traffic.
A June 2026 review highlights confusion around the Strait of Hormuz and soaring freight rates, suggesting potential disruptions to vessel traffic and shipping routes through this critical maritime chokepoint. The situation may be causing rerouting or slowdowns affecting vessels transiting the Persian Gulf region.
The 2026 El Niño, declared by NOAA in June 2026 and forecast to reach moderate-to-strong intensity by fall, poses distinct operational risks across five major shipping corridors, including the Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic. The Panama Canal is identified as the most critical chokepoint, with drought-driven transit restrictions potentially replicating the 2023–24 crisis when daily transits halved and LNG carrier transits fell 66%, forcing widespread global rerouting.
Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran have shut in approximately one-fifth of global monthly LNG supply, stalling trade growth in 2026 and damaging Qatar's export facilities. Flows are expected to potentially normalize within three months, with LNG trade growth forecast to resume in 2027.