Stay on top of port closures, security incidents, congestion events and freight rate movements impacting global shipping. Updated continuously from verified industry sources.
CMA CGM and Asyad Group have agreed to develop a $400 million multipurpose logistics terminal at Sohar Port in Oman, reinforcing the port's role as an alternative trade route amid ongoing disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. While transits through the strait have partially resumed following a preliminary U.S.-Iran peace deal, continued uncertainty and ongoing strikes maintain significant risk of disruption to shipping in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz closure has significantly reshaped global crude oil flows, forcing VLCC operators to adapt routes and operations during Q2 2026. This major disruption affects tanker traffic transiting one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, likely causing widespread rerouting and delays for crude oil shipments.
Renewed US-Iran tensions involving strikes over the Strait of Hormuz are stoking supply fears for natural gas, though talks are set to resume in Qatar. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for LNG and oil tanker traffic, faces potential disruption risks if diplomatic efforts fail.
South Carolina Ports will temporarily suspend container operations at the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in Charleston starting August 1, consolidating all activity at the Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals due to weaker cargo volumes and trade uncertainty. No restart date has been announced, marking a significant reduction in the Port of Charleston's active container handling capacity.
Shell's 2026 LNG Outlook reports that severe disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has shut in approximately one-fifth of global monthly LNG supply since the Middle East conflict began, suppressing global LNG trade growth in 2026. A return to normal shipping through the strait is expected by summer 2026, with trade growth forecast to resume in 2027.
The Strait of Hormuz remains only partially navigable following a conflict that began on February 28, with tanker transits still well below pre-crisis levels of 90–110 vessels per day and cargo throughput at roughly half of pre-conflict crude levels. The tanker market is experiencing extreme rate volatility, with VLCC earnings from the Middle East to China plunging to ~$287,000/day while global trade patterns remain disrupted as vessels continue to use Cape of Good Hope rerouting.
Panama Canal congestion has reached its yearly high in 2026, with wait times up 50% year-over-year and a scheduled dry chamber overhaul on Gatun Locks (June 9–17) set to halve daily transit slots from ~36–40 down to 16, severely worsening delays for tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships. The backlog has triggered multiple Jones Act waivers for US domestic shipments and may prompt widespread rerouting via Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, with congestion risks extending beyond June due to potential El Niño water-level constraints.
The Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, with tanker traffic at roughly one-tenth of pre-war levels and ~65% of outbound laden tankers transiting in "dark" (AIS-off) mode as of May 2026. Over 13 million barrels per day of oil remain stranded within the Gulf, with insurance premiums elevated, oilfields shut in, and a full recovery contingent on political resolution and logistics normalization.
The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed due to ongoing Middle East conflict, with shipping volumes near zero and oil, LNG, and refined product exports severely curtailed — Trafigura estimates this represents the largest energy crisis in history, with losses of ~14 million barrels per day. Even a near-term peace agreement would not quickly restore maritime trade flows, as vessel repositioning, depleted inventories, and disrupted logistics chains are expected to weigh on tanker, LNG, and commodity shipping for months.
The Strait of Hormuz remains near-totally closed due to an ongoing US-Iran conflict, with tanker traffic running at roughly one-tenth of pre-war levels; around 65% of outbound laden tankers are transiting in "dark" (AIS-off) mode, severely distorting cargo visibility and market transparency. Over 13 million barrels per day of oil exports remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, with a slow and fragile drawdown underway, while insurance risks, logistical constraints, and potential Iranian tolling continue to threaten any return to normalcy.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war has cut off approximately 25% of global oil seaborne trade and nearly 20% of global LNG trade, causing major disruptions to maritime shipping routes through the world's most critical oil chokepoint. Australia, which imports ~90% of its oil needs, is particularly exposed, while global shipping flows for Middle Eastern energy exports are severely curtailed.
Anticipation of US tariffs on copper imports is prompting a surge in pre-emptive shipments into US ports, which could generate congestion or increased traffic volumes. Additionally, the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to prolonged Middle East conflict poses a significant rerouting risk for vessels transiting that critical chokepoint.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained disrupted for a third consecutive month following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, severely curtailing crude oil shipments through this critical chokepoint and forcing major rerouting via the Fujairah and Yanbu bypass pipelines. India has lost roughly 50% of its usual energy supply route through Hormuz (~2.5–2.7 million bpd), triggering significant shifts in tanker traffic patterns toward alternative ports and diversified supplier origins.
Bunker fuel availability is significantly constrained across multiple European and African ports, driven by tightened blending component supplies linked to Hormuz disruptions and historically low ARA fuel oil stocks (44% below February levels). Extended lead times of 5–14 days are required across key bunkering hubs, with additional weather-related operational closures at Las Palmas and Walvis Bay.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) is causing major disruptions to offshore vessel operations in the Middle East Gulf, with up to 15 OSVs having contracts terminated in the UAE, widespread suspensions in Qatar, and newbuild vessels stranded in the Gulf of Oman awaiting access. Insurance costs have surged up to 10x, EPC construction projects are stalling due to inability to import equipment from Asia, and no OSVs are currently able to transit in or out of the Middle East Gulf.
Shipping executives at the Posidonia/Capital Link conference in Athens are urging that any US-Iran peace deal include clear rules for commercial vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that ongoing geopolitical uncertainty is disrupting normal shipping operations in the Gulf. At least one vessel has been stranded inside the Gulf for approximately three months, with high-risk insurance conditions and no clear operational framework for safe transit currently in place.
US blockade of Iran has caused Iranian oil exports via the Gulf to plunge over 90%, with only four tankers carrying petrochemicals departing in May 2026. This represents a major disruption to tanker traffic in the Persian Gulf region, severely curtailing Iranian maritime oil export routes.
The Strait of Hormuz has been blockaded following an outbreak of war in the Middle East (late February 2026), causing a 22% drop in VLGC LPG exports from the region and driving major rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope. The Panama Canal is experiencing near-full capacity and sharply elevated transit auction fees (up to USD 4M per transit), further reducing VLGC availability and causing congestion-driven disruptions on key LPG trade routes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to an ongoing conflict involving Iran, causing approximately 55 tankers to wait in holding positions near the Indian Ocean and East Africa, with major disruptions to Persian Gulf oil export flows. Tanker owners are strategically repositioning vessels within 3–5 sailing days of the Gulf in anticipation of a potential reopening, while the timeline and conditions for resumption of normal transit remain highly uncertain.
The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed due to an ongoing US-Iran conflict now in its third month, with hundreds of vessels and approximately 20,000 seafarers trapped in the Gulf unable to leave without safety guarantees. Daily transit traffic — normally averaging 125 vessels — has been severely disrupted, with ship operators, insurers, and flag registries all under mounting operational and safety pressure.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) due to ongoing conflict is causing severe structural disruptions to offshore maritime operations across the Middle East Gulf, including contract terminations for OSVs in Qatar and the UAE (up to 15 vessels), stranded newbuilds in the Gulf of Oman, and stalled EPC/construction projects due to inability to transit equipment from Asia. Insurance costs have surged up to 10x, and vessel maintenance costs are significantly elevated due to supply scarcity within the Gulf region.