Seven ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in a day, Brent rose above $105 per barrel

Reuters reported on Thursday, September 11, that the number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz had halved amid a new escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. This refers to ships that were passing through the strait with their transponders turned on.

The Strait of Hormuz plays an important role in oil supplies from Middle Eastern countries. Against this backdrop, global oil prices continued to rise, and Brent on the ICE exchange in London was trading above $105 per barrel on the morning of September 11.

After the start of the war between the US and Israel and Iran, Tehran announced that it was closing the Strait of Hormuz and would allow ships through it at its own discretion. The US, in turn, imposed a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and is not allowing ships heading to or leaving Iranian ports to pass.

Later, Yemeni Houthis, who are supported by Iran, joined the conflict. The situation is also complicated by the Houthis' seizure of the port city of Mokha on the Red Sea coast.

Control over Mokha, Reuters notes, will allow them to intensify attacks toward the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. A significant share of oil from the Middle East to Europe is transported through this strait.

Because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices rose significantly in the first half of 2026. They fell when the US and Iran announced a halt to active hostilities and a willingness to discuss the terms of a peace agreement, but rose again as the conflict escalated.

Sources

• Material: meduza.io