Strait of Hormuz Ship Transits in 2020 — Monthly Totals and Records
Overview
Daily commercial ship transits of the Strait of Hormuz during 2020, month by month: total traffic, its quietest and busiest stretches, and the incidents that moved it.
2020 Month by Month
| Month | Total | Daily avg | Peak day |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1,871 | 60.4 | 76 · 1 Jan |
| February | 1,770 | 61.0 | 88 · 17 Feb |
| March | 1,785 | 57.6 | 81 · 8 Mar |
| April | 2,110 | 70.3 | 86 · 28 Apr |
| May | 2,486 | 80.2 | 98 · 6 May |
| June | 2,572 | 85.7 | 99 · 29 Jun |
| July | 2,589 | 83.5 | 104 · 7 Jul |
| August | 2,599 | 83.8 | 117 · 15 Aug |
| September | 2,669 | 89.0 | 112 · 27 Sep |
| October | 2,675 | 86.3 | 108 · 8 Oct |
| November | 1,946 | 64.9 | 93 · 11 Nov |
| December | 1,864 | 60.1 | 86 · 3 Dec |
Busiest Days of 2020
| Date | Transits | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 15 August | 117 | — |
| 27 September | 112 | — |
| 8 October | 108 | — |
| 3 October | 107 | — |
| 21 September | 106 | — |
| 7 July | 104 | — |
| 20 August | 104 | — |
| 7 September | 102 | — |
| 25 September | 101 | — |
| 6 October | 100 | — |
Reading the Numbers
2020 recorded 26,936 transits, an average of 73.6 per day. That is 7% above the 25,220 recorded in 2019.
Among the 7 complete years on record, 2020 ranks as the 6th-busiest.
The busiest month was October with 2,675 transits.
The quietest month was February with 1,770 transits.
The peak day of the year — 117 transits on August 15 — compares with the year's daily average of 73.6. Activity was reported on 366 of the 366 days covered (100%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many commercial ship transits of the Strait of Hormuz were recorded in 2020?
26,936 transits were recorded over the course of 2020, an average of 73.6 per day.
What was the busiest day of 2020?
The peak was 117 transits on August 15, 2020.
How does 2020 compare with 2019?
2020's total of 26,936 is 7% higher than the 25,220 recorded in 2019.
Sources: IMF PortWatch · Kpler · UN Global Platform · UK Maritime Trade Operations