UKMTO cited data compiled by the ‘Joint Maritime Information Center’ (JMIC), a multinational coalition organization led by the U.S. Navy. The number of cargo ships, excluding oil tankers, passing through was tallied at 98 ships on the 28th of last month, 18 ships on March 1, 7 ships on March 2, and 1 ship on March 3.

According to JMIC data, the average number of ships of all types passing through the Strait of Hormuz under normal conditions was approximately 138 per day.

Ship route tracking data provided by ‘CAS,’ a commodities supply and trading information service operated by capital market information company S&P Global, also showed that not a single oil tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the 4th. However, it reported that as of the 5th, several oil tankers were sailing eastward and approaching the Strait of Hormuz.

According to CAS, the average number of oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the week before the war broke out exceeded 50 per day.

According to ship location tracking data compiled by Bloomberg as of March 5, shipping volume through the Strait of Hormuz plummeted by more than 95% compared to just before the outbreak of the war.

According to the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), as of 2025, the volume of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz was approximately 15 million barrels per day, with an additional 5 million barrels per day of other products including LNG. The destinations were primarily Asian countries including China, India, Japan, and South Korea.

Meanwhile, with the Strait of Hormuz, a critical crude oil shipping route, effectively blocked, China has reportedly entered into consultations with Iran for the safe passage of energy carriers.

On this day, Reuters reported, citing three diplomatic sources, that China is holding discussions with Iran to allow ships carrying Middle Eastern crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

China, which has maintained friendly relations with Iran, is displeased with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and is pressuring Iran to allow safe passage for energy carriers, the sources said.

Reuters reported, citing ship tracking data, that a vessel named ‘Iron Maiden’ changed its signal to ‘Chinese-owned’ and passed through the Strait of Hormuz overnight the previous day.

Additionally, a sugar industry expert, in an interview with Reuters, relayed comments from Middle Eastern sugar company executives that some ships are currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and that all of those ships are Chinese or Iranian-owned.

China, the world’s largest crude oil importer, imports approximately 45% of its oil through the Strait of Hormuz.