Iran continued to transport significant volumes of crude oil through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz to China, despite the ongoing US-Israel military campaign on Iran, which has raised concerns over the security of maritime oil shipments.
According to TankerTrackers co-founder Samir Madani, Iran has shipped at least 11.7 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began on February 28, with all shipments reportedly destined for China.
The firm monitors vessels using satellite imagery, which enables tracking of ships even when their onboard Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) are turned off, a tactic increasingly used by vessels to avoid detection amid threats from Tehran to target ships attempting transit.
Meanwhile, Kpler estimates that roughly 12 million barrels of crude have passed through the strait since the onset of the conflict.
Nwai Chin Sui, a crude oil analyst at Kpler, noted that China has been Iran’s primary oil buyer in recent years, suggesting that the bulk of these shipments were intended for Chinese refineries. However, she added that confirming the final destination of these tankers has become increasingly difficult under current conditions.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil and gas supply transits, has seen a sharp decline in maritime traffic since the outbreak of hostilities. Most tankers are deliberately avoiding the passage, and those that do transit are moving at significantly reduced speeds.
The International Maritime Organization reported at least seven attacks on vessels in or near the strait, resulting in seven confirmed fatalities among sailors since the conflict began.
A spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told CNBC that vessels navigating the strait must exercise extreme caution due to rising tensions and ongoing hostile activities.
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