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Global Oil Transit via Key Chokepoints
Percentage of global oil supply passing through critical maritime routes.
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US Blocks Hormuz: What Happens To Global Oil Flows Now?
EconomyEdited by: Priya RaghuvanshiUpdated Apr 14, 2026, 18:04 ISTThe US blockade of Iranian shipping threatens global oil supply, disrupts Hormuz traffic, and raises concerns for major Asian importers regarding the uncertainty of the situation.Weekend peace talks in Islamabad between negotiators from the U.S. and Iran ended without a deal. (AI-Generated Image)The United States has taken a major step in escalating tensions in the Middle East by starting a naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping. The move could disrupt millions of barrels of crude oil supply and send ripples through already sensitive global energy markets. The development comes after diplomatic efforts failed to yield results. Talks held over the weekend in Islamabad between the US and Iranian officials ended without an agreement, prompting a strong response from Washington. Following the breakdown, US President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy "will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz." Shortly after, US Central Command clarified that unauthorised vessels attempting to move through the restricted zone would face "interception, diversion, and capture". However, it added that ships heading to or from non-Iranian ports would still be allowed safe passage.Iran reacted swiftly. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any military presence near the strait would be treated as a violation of the ceasefire and would be met with decisive action.How Much Oil Supply Is At Risk?The blockade threatens to significantly reduce the flow of Iranian crude into global markets. Iran had been exporting around 1.84 million barrels per day in March, with April shipments also remaining strong. Cutting off this supply would tighten availability at a time when markets are already volatile. However, there is a cushion, at least temporarily. Data indicate that Iran had ramped up output before hostilities began, resulting in over 180 million barrels of oil either in transit or stored at sea. A large portion of this inventory is reportedly stationed near key Asian hubs, including waters off Malaysia, Indonesia, and China, according to a Reuters report.Still, sustained disruption could drain these reserves and intensify supply concerns, especially for countries heavily dependent on imported crude.What’s Happening In The Strait Of Hormuz?The Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy trade, has seen sharply reduced traffic since te...
Strait of Hormuz | Map, Importance, Conflict and Closure, Control, Oil ...
Top Questions Who owns the Strait of Hormuz? How many ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz? Who controls the Strait of Hormuz? Has the Strait of Hormuz ever been closed? What is the Strait of Hormuz? Why is the Strait of Hormuz important for global oil exports? How does the geography of the Strait of Hormuz affect its role in global shipping? What was the Tanker War? What happened in the Strait of Hormuz in June 2025? News • Strait of Hormuz, only sea channel linking the oil-rich Persian Gulf (west) with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea (southeast). In March 2026, amid the 2026 Iran war, threats and attacks by Iran on ships passing through the strait led to a more than 95 percent drop in traffic, leading to the biggest disruption ever in the global oil supply and a surge in the price of other critical commodities.More than 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports passes through the strait, which serves as the primary route for petroleum exported from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (although the United Arab Emirates has the capability to divert most of its exports through its Fujairah emirate on the Gulf of Oman). The exports are geographically focused—about four-fifths go to importing countries in Asia, especially China, India, Japan, and South Korea—but the volume of the supply has profound impact on pricing worldwide due to the low elasticity of prices for petroleum products. Along with the Strait of Malacca that connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most vital oil chokepoints in the global economy. Geography and shipping The strait is 35 to 60 miles (55 to 95 km) wide and separates Iran (north) from Oman’s Musandam exclave on the Arabian Peninsula (south). Bandar Abbas, an Iranian port of both economic and military importance, lies on its northern coastline, near which are the Iranian islands of Qeshm (Qishm), Hormuz, Hengām (Henjām), and Lārak. The United Arab Emirates is also located near the strait, about 40 to 50 miles (65 to 80 km) to the strait’s narrowest point on either side of the Musandam Peninsula. Although based some distance from the strait, the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet has been based in Bahrain since 1995 and plays a role in guaranteeing safe passage in the strait. Britannica Quiz Water and its Varying Forms Oil tankers pass through the strait in inbound and outbound shipping lanes that are 2 miles (3 km) in width and separated by a two-mile b...
Kang Hoon-sik secures oil, naphtha for South Korea via non-Hormuz routes
Kang Hoon-sik secures oil, naphtha for South Korea via non-Hormuz routes Kang Hoon-siks envoy tour locks in short-term energy supplies via Red Sea-adjacent routes
South Korea secures 273 million barrels of oil via alternative routes ...
South Korea has secured supplies of 273 million barrels of crude oil and 2.1 million tons of naphtha from Middle Eastern countries and Kazakhstan through the end of the year, according to the presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik. He said the contracted oil volume is equivalent to more than three months of domestic consumption under normal conditions, while naphtha supplies cover about one ...
