U.S. Military Strikes Iran for 10 Consecutive Nights; Hormuz Transit Volume Plunges 66%
Taylor Wilson
The U.S. military has struck Iran for ten consecutive nights, and weekly vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz have plunged from 157 to just 53 — a 66% drop. Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil flows through this chokepoint, and near-paralysis there signals real stress on the global energy supply chain.
What is the U.S. hitting, and for how long?
U.S. Central Command announced its latest round of strikes on July 20, lasting roughly five hours and targeting military command centers, missile and drone launch sites, naval capabilities, and air-defense systems.
This marks the tenth consecutive night of American airstrikes on Iran. The conflict formally erupted on February 28, 2026, following a joint U.S.–Israeli strike.
The war has so far killed thousands, displaced millions, and raised the U.S. military death toll to 17 as of last weekend.
How far have Hormuz transits fallen?
Lloyd's List Intelligence data: in the week ending July 20, Hormuz transits totaled just 53, down 66% from 157 the prior week. Tanker and LNG-carrier transits fell from 90 to 30.
Kpler data: after the U.S. blockade order took effect on July 15, daily transits dropped from over 20 to single digits and have stayed there.
S&P Global data: 40 vessels transited between July 17 and 19 — roughly 13 per day, down nearly 50% week-on-week. This means → three independent datasets converge on the same picture: shipping through the strait has nearly ground to a halt.
Who is still sailing through?
S&P Global data shows commercial vessels still account for over 70% of transits, but only about one-third of those are assessed as compliant with maritime restrictions.
In plain terms = the remaining traffic is dominated by Iran-linked and sanctioned vessels. Mainstream international shipowners are staying away.
Lloyd's List analyst Bridget Diakun described traffic as an "ebb and flow" — owners dash through when they sense a brief safety window, then pull back the moment tensions escalate again.
Where does this leave oil prices?
Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Marquee, noted that Hormuz traffic has fallen to roughly 15% of pre-war levels. "The latest escalation shows that expectations for a swift reopening are too optimistic," he said.
He told CNBC that if high-intensity fighting continues for weeks — or if regional energy infrastructure is attacked — oil could retest the $100-per-barrel mark.
This reflects a single core variable: the Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption, and whether it reopens on any meaningful timeline will determine if supply-chain pressure eases or deepens.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.