Admiral Brad Cooper of US Central Command reported that oil and liquefied natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest level in six months over the last two weeks. Main crossing corridors in the strait are now mine-free following naval security efforts, which enabled Persian Gulf allies to move more than 1 billion barrels of crude in recent months. The coordinated protection of tanker traffic is actively easing prior global supply squeezes.

Global energy markets remain tight and rely on an estimated 10 million barrels per day transiting the waterway, leading the Trump administration to closely monitor tanker volumes. While regional disruptions and geopolitical tensions persist, shipping flows are approaching pre-war levels. This rebound in transit has coincided with a surge in rates for Very Large Crude Carriers.