Clarksons Research, the data and analytics arm of the Clarksons Group, continue to track and monitor shipping activity and markets impacted by the Middle East conflict, with disruption “spreading” to the Red Sea in recent days.

Summarising their latest update issued today at 10.00 am 27^th July, Steve Gordon, Global Head of Clarksons Research commented:

• The number of vessels transiting the Bab El Mandeb (heading to / from the Red Sea) averaged 31 vessels per day across 25-26^th July, down by ~50% versus the Q2 average in tonnage terms
• The number of VLCCs crossing the Bab El Mandeb has declined, averaging 1 per day over the past week, down from an average of 3 per day across Q2
• Crossings through the Strait of Hormuz remain at low levels, with 13 transits per day across the weekend, down 90% versus pre-conflict levels, while transits in tonnage terms are down >95%
• VLCC crossings through the Strait of Hormuz remain very limited, with 6 transits reported over the past week down ~95% versus “typical” levels
• The flow of energy out of the Gulf has been very constrained in recent days, with ~1m bpd of crude leaving the Gulf in the past week, down from 10m bpd in early July and 15m bpd pre-conflict while no LNG carriers / VLGCs appear to have transited the Strait in over 10 days
• “Energy” shipping markets remain very elevated, with VLCC earnings firming 13% last week to $145,000/day while supportive arbitrage dynamics saw VLGC spot earnings rise 24% w-o-w to $172,000/day (now just ~10% below May’s record high)
• An extended avoidance of Bab El Mandeb may increase tanker voyage distances as flows via Yanbu (exported 3.8m bpd past week, +3m bpd vs normal) are re-routed (e.g. Yanbu to China via Suez Canal & Cape of Good Hope is ~15,000 nm, x2 the current distance via Gulf of Aden (6,700 nm))
• Longer-term planning of infrastructure investment to reduce future reliance on Hormuz continues; export capacity from bypass pipelines could rise from 8m bpd today to 17m bpd if all projects are built with these developments often involving longer shipping distances

More detail from Clarksons Research can be found in the attached updates and underlying data to produce charts is available on request.

Middle East Conflict Update – 24th July 2026 (Selected Charts)