At least 20 oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Iran began to reopen the sea lane to commercial ship traffic, according to the trade intelligence firm Kpler.
Tanker transits on Thursday hit the highest level since June 2, the firm said. However, traffic is still below prewar levels when more than 100 ships, including dozens of tankers, transited Hormuz daily.
In total, 25 ships transited Hormuz on Thursday including cargo, container and other vessel classes, in addition to the tankers, according to Kpler. Traffic has picked up after the U.S. Navy ended its blockade of Iran, while Tehran is allowing ships to cross Hormuz for 60 days without paying tolls.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters Thursday that the Iranians so far "are honoring their end of the commitment."
"Traffic was broadly balanced, with 13 crossings moving West to East and 12 moving East to West," said Matt Smith, Kpler's commodity research director.
Three supertankers from Saudi Arabia and one from the United Arab Emirates crossed Hormuz on Thursday, according to Kpler. These huge ships, called very large crude carriers, or VLCCs, can haul up to 2 million barrels of oil.
Iranian supertankers are switching on their transponders after going dark during the war, Kpler analysts told clients in a Friday note. Five Iranian supertankers loaded with oil were observed departing the region on Friday, the analysts said.
"Two-way vessel flows suggest Iranian crude trade is gradually returning closer to normal operating patterns," the analysts said.
Eighteen ships that crossed Thursday followed the route designated by Iran to cross Hormuz, according to Kpler. Just one vessel used the route defined by the International Maritime Organization. The routes used by six ships couldn't be confirmed, Kpler said.
The U.S.-Iran deal has raised questions about how Hormuz will be governed. After the 60-day toll-free period ends, Iran will hold talks with Oman and the Gulf states on how to administer the strait, according to the deal terms. This appears to leave open the possibility that tolls could be imposed in the future.
