Strait of Hormuz Ship Transits in 2021 — Monthly Totals and Records
Overview
Daily commercial ship transits of the Strait of Hormuz during 2021, month by month: total traffic, its quietest and busiest stretches, and the incidents that moved it.
2021 Month by Month
| Month | Total | Daily avg | Peak day |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2,054 | 66.3 | 103 · 19 Jan |
| February | 1,914 | 68.4 | 102 · 15 Feb |
| March | 2,244 | 72.4 | 92 · 31 Mar |
| April | 2,586 | 86.2 | 115 · 9 Apr |
| May | 2,631 | 84.9 | 104 · 8 May |
| June | 2,742 | 91.4 | 108 · 25 Jun |
| July | 2,663 | 85.9 | 106 · 7 Jul |
| August | 2,608 | 84.1 | 102 · 6 Aug |
| September | 2,599 | 86.6 | 110 · 16 Sep |
| October | 2,504 | 80.8 | 114 · 8 Oct |
| November | 2,517 | 83.9 | 108 · 23 Nov |
| December | 2,434 | 78.5 | 102 · 25 Dec |
Busiest Days of 2021
| Date | Transits | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 9 April | 115 | — |
| 8 October | 114 | — |
| 1 April | 112 | — |
| 16 September | 110 | — |
| 25 September | 110 | — |
| 25 June | 108 | — |
| 23 November | 108 | — |
| 7 July | 106 | — |
| 22 April | 105 | — |
| 1 June | 105 | — |
Incidents Logged in 2021
| Date | Type | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan | Interception | Iran seizes South Korean tanker Hankuk Chemi near the Strait of Hormuz |
| 30 Jul | Strike | Iranian drone attack on tanker Mercer Street off Oman kills two crew members |
| 3 Aug | Interception | Armed boarders briefly seize tanker Asphalt Princess off UAE in foiled hijacking |
Reading the Numbers
2021 recorded 29,496 transits, an average of 80.8 per day. That is 10% above the 26,936 recorded in 2020.
Among the 7 complete years on record, 2021 ranks as the 5th-busiest.
The busiest month was June with 2,742 transits.
The quietest month was February with 1,914 transits. It came in the wake of a logged incident: Iran seizes South Korean tanker Hankuk Chemi near the Strait of Hormuz.
The peak day of the year — 115 transits on April 9 — compares with the year's daily average of 80.8. Activity was reported on 365 of the 365 days covered (100%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many commercial ship transits of the Strait of Hormuz were recorded in 2021?
29,496 transits were recorded over the course of 2021, an average of 80.8 per day.
What was the busiest day of 2021?
The peak was 115 transits on April 9, 2021.
How does 2021 compare with 2020?
2021's total of 29,496 is 10% higher than the 26,936 recorded in 2020.
Sources: IMF PortWatch · Kpler · UN Global Platform · UK Maritime Trade Operations