Oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz showed signs of gradual recovery on Monday after a recent slowdown caused by renewed tensions in the region. Shipping data indicated vessels resumed transit following Iran’s announcement over the weekend that it had again closed the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global energy supplies, had been effectively blocked by Iran until last week when Tehran agreed to a 60-day ceasefire with the United States amid ongoing peace negotiations. However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared the strait closed once more on Saturday in response to strikes in Lebanon, leading to a sharp drop in vessel movements over the weekend.

On Monday, four LNG tankers operated by Qatar passed through the strait, navigating via the northern Iranian-controlled route for the first time since the conflict escalation began. Additionally, two supertankers, each capable of carrying up to 4 million barrels of crude oil, entered the Gulf, with one reportedly bound for Iraq’s Basra port. Two smaller crude oil tankers carrying nearly 2 million barrels in total departed the strait toward the Gulf of Oman, according to separate ship tracking platforms.

Despite the recent volatility, maritime analysts noted a cautiously optimistic trend. Ship broker Clarksons observed that daily transits remain below the pre-conflict average of approximately 125 crossings but highlighted a positive upward movement in activity. Some industry sources cautioned that actual traffic could be higher due to vessels operating with their tracking systems, known as AIS transponders, switched off, complicating monitoring efforts.

On Sunday, only five vessels passed through the strait, down starkly from 26 the day before. Among them were three Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) transporting around 2 million barrels each of crude and fuel oil from Saudi Arabia, one destined for Japan. The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center noted commercial vessels increasingly chose southern routes via Omani waters alongside the northern Iranian-controlled path.

Data from the US Central Command indicated 55 merchant ships transited the strait on Saturday, collectively carrying over 17 million barrels of oil to global markets. These included VLCCs transporting crude from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq, alongside various oil product tankers. Since the beginning of last week, Iranian exports through the virtual blockade line surpassed 25 million barrels, according to Hamid Bovard, head of the National Iranian Oil Company.

Three sanctioned VLCCs—Elva, Virgo, and Vigor—carrying Iranian oil from Kharg Island between late April and early May, were also recorded exiting the strait on Monday. Gulf producers Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and Kuwait Petroleum Corp. continue to issue crude tenders, offering loading options both inside and outside the strait.

Regional activity also reflected shifts in international maritime participation. South Korean-operated vessels passed the strait last week following the ceasefire, while Japanese shipping interests reported a decline in Gulf-related vessels from 45 at the start of the conflict to 37 currently.

Two LNG tankers controlled by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) delivered cargoes to India on Monday, docking at Ennore and Kochi terminals. These vessels had recently passed through the strait after previously appearing inactive on tracking systems. ADNOC declined to comment on vessel positions or movements, citing company policy.

Overall, while tanker traffic remains below pre-conflict levels, the resumption of voyages through the Strait of Hormuz suggests a tentative easing of tensions amid diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region.