Persistent Risk of Dual Blockade in Hormuz Despite Resilience of Non-Iranian Transit

Data from Lloyd's List Intelligence tracked the continuation of the dual blockade dynamic in the Strait of Hormuz during the third week of August 2026, with non-Iranian transit traffic recorded at approximately 43 voyages per week without notable interruption.

Despite the resilience of tanker and commercial vessel traffic, risk premiums imposed by insurance companies on voyages through the strait remain at exceptional levels, raising the overall costs of oil shipping in the Gulf region.

Volumes transported through Hormuz account for about 20% of the world's total seaborne traded oil, making any fluctuation in its traffic immediately reflected in global energy markets and supply chains.

Analysts believe the current phase combines an ongoing physical flow of vessels with a high level of uncertainty that keeps marine insurance markets on high alert, costing shipping companies additional daily burdens without documented incidents occurring. Forecasts indicate that any escalation in regional tensions could shift the strait from a warning zone to an acute crisis zone within hours.

What do these terms mean?

Dual Blockade: A term referring to the presence of two simultaneous security threats in the same waterway, doubling uncertainty for tankers.

Marine Risk Premium: Additional fees imposed by insurance companies on vessels crossing dangerous maritime areas, added on top of the base insurance premium.

Transit Traffic: Commercial ships passing through a strait without stopping—measured by the number of weekly voyages and reflecting the actual degree of openness of the passage.