Hormuz maritime traffic recovering but remains fragile, Kpler says

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is continuing to recover, but shipping confidence remains "fragile", according to vessel-tracking firm Kpler.

In an update on Friday, Kpler said 38 vessel crossings through the monitored Strait of Hormuz zone were confirmed on 2 July, down 10 percent from the previous day but remaining within an emerging range of 30 to 60 daily crossings. 

The daily prewar average was 125-140 ships, carrying global supplies, including approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day, about 20 percent of the world’s seaborne oil trade.

Kpler said commercial vessels continued to account for most traffic, while Iranian-flagged activity "rose sharply", with operators increasingly shifting towards "Iranian and Dark or Unknown" routes through the strategic waterway.

"The pattern suggests confidence remains incomplete, with passage increasingly shaped by political acceptance, compliance exposure and unresolved negotiations over fees and route governance," Kpler said.

Hormuz recovery remains fragile

Traffic through the monitored Strait of #Hormuz zone showed further signs of stabilisation, with 38 confirmed crossings on 2 July, down 10% day on day but still within the emerging 30 to 60 crossings per day range. Commercial vessels continued to… pic.twitter.com/qS2Bed7P2Y

— Kpler (@Kpler) July 3, 2026