At least 10 VLCCs avoid the Persian Gulf amid rising concerns over increased Iranian attacks

Due to the increasing frequency of attacks by Iran, more and more unloaded supertankers have begun adjusting their course to avoid the Persian Gulf. According to oil tanker positioning and tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, at least 10 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) and several Suezmax tankers have recently chosen to pause their voyages or directly redirect their course away when about to arrive at the port of Fujairah in the UAE. Although some ships are still heading to the area, attacks are occurring almost daily around the Strait of Hormuz, with some incidents even taking place near Fujairah. The evacuation movements of these supertankers have once again raised concerns about whether this vital waterway can reliably sustain its oil transport function. As the world’s busiest oil shipping choke point, the Strait of Hormuz handles around one-third of global seaborne oil trade. If the safety of transportation experiences significant fluctuations, it will have a direct impact on the balance of supply and demand in the international crude market and oil price trends. Several international shipping companies have already begun to assess the navigation risks in this area; some companies are also considering adjusting shipping routes, increasing insurance premiums, and other response measures to mitigate potential security risks.