An Iranian flag. (Credit: AFP)
The number of tankers present in the Gulf for oil loading significantly decreased during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, according to data from Belgian firm Kpler. This is seen as a sign of caution from shipowners awaiting maritime security guarantees, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz area. On June 11, two days before Israeli strikes in Iran began, 64 tankers waiting for loading (in ballast) were in the area. This number dropped to only 45 ships by June 16, falling below the 50 mark for the first time since August 2024.
According to Kpler's daily data analyzed by AFP, the average was 67 ships per day from Jan. 1 to June 12, compared to 53 during the 12 days of war. No clear increase in the number of vessels has been observed since Tuesday, and the implementation of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
To maintain stability at sea, an oil tanker traveling without or with a low cargo load fills its tanks with seawater, called "ballast." "The number of tankers in ballast is often an indicator of whether a ship is going to a region to pick up a cargo," explained to AFP Naveen Das, senior analyst at Kpler. The significant decrease in their number observed at the beginning of the war "suggests some hesitation to return to the region to load oil," he added.
The Gulf is bordered by eight oil producers: the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman and Iran—several of whose oil and gas facilities were targeted by Israeli strikes on June 14. The Gulf's maritime oil exports, primarily destined for Asia, transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula that the Islamic Republic threatened to block during the conflict. The specter of such a closure, which would block the transport of one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports, has receded since the ceasefire came into effect on Tuesday.
Oil loadings in Iranian Gulf ports peaked at 7.4 million barrels on June 16, the start of the conflict, a record for the year, before falling to zero for six consecutive days, from June 18 to 23. This is the most extended interruption in these ports in 2025, according to AFP's analysis of data provided by Kpler.
