Hormuz oil flows rise as more supertankers exit blocked strait

Supertanker traffic carrying unsanctioned oil through the Strait of Hormuz has increased in recent days, offering limited relief after the waterway’s wartime blockage removed about 1 billion barrels from global supply. Four vessels, each carrying about 2 million barrels of mostly Iraqi crude, have exited since May 10, 2026, according to Bloomberg-compiled vessel tracking data. The pace is near 2 million barrels a day, but remains far below prewar levels, when roughly 20 tankers of various sizes crossed daily. Hormuz has been largely blocked since the war began in late February 2026. The U.S. has maintained a blockade on Iranian ports from the Gulf of Oman, while Iran in May 2026 introduced a new transit process through the Persian Gulf Strait Authority. Iran said May 14, 2026, it is allowing Chinese ships to pass after talks with China’s foreign ministry.