Renewed U.S.-Iran fighting this week has sharply reduced vessel transits through
the Strait of Hormuz. Kpler data show Thursday transits fell to 22 from 30 the
previous day. On Tuesday Iran targeted ships in the strait, damaging a Qatar LNG
carrier, and exchanges resumed; since mutual strikes began that day Kpler
records only two LNG vessels entering and one exiting. After a June 17 U.S.-Iran
agreement to open talks, transits briefly rose to a peak before the ceasefire
broke. Shipping broker Braemar LNG said in a Friday client note that owners are
withdrawing available tonnage from the area "until the geopolitical picture is
clearer", cutting capacity and pushing up freight/transport costs.