Why Is the Strait of Hormuz So Important?

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The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, it is about 21 nautical miles (39 kilometers) wide, with designated shipping channels for vessels entering and leaving the Persian Gulf. Its location makes it one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints.

Its importance comes mainly from the amount of energy that moves through it. The International Energy Agency says an average of about 20 million barrels of crude oil and oil products passed through the strait each day in 2025, representing roughly one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade. The U.S. Energy Information Administration also estimates that about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas trade passed through Hormuz in 2024, much of it from Qatar.

Hormuz has become especially important in 2026 because conflict in the region has sharply reduced commercial traffic. Reuters reported on September 22 that only two commodity vessels crossed the strait on the previous day, compared with a pre-conflict average of about 125 large commercial vessels per day. Some ships have continued to move while others have used alternative arrangements, but those alternatives are limited and can increase transport costs.

Because so much energy and commercial shipping depends on this narrow passage, changes in traffic through Hormuz can affect shipping, energy markets, and economies far beyond the Persian Gulf.




 








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