Strait of Hormuz Ship Transits in 2026 — Monthly Totals and Records
Overview
Daily commercial ship transits of the Strait of Hormuz during 2026, month by month: total traffic, its quietest and busiest stretches, and the incidents that moved it.
2026 Month by Month
| Month | Total | Daily avg | Peak day |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1,812 | 58.5 | 74 · 9 Jan |
| February | 2,192 | 78.3 | 127 · 22 Feb |
| March | 99 | 3.2 | 20 · 1 Mar |
| April | 214 | 7.1 | 39 · 29 Apr |
| May | 122 | 3.9 | 10 · 14 May |
| June | 388 | 12.9 | 51 · 24 Jun |
| July | 316 | 10.2 | 29 · 1 Jul |
| August | 146 | 4.7 | 10 · 8 Aug |
| September · partial | 78 | 3.9 | 8 · 11 Sep |
Busiest Days of 2026
| Date | Transits | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 22 February | 127 | — |
| 25 February | 116 | — |
| 19 February | 115 | — |
| 18 February | 109 | — |
| 23 February | 104 | — |
| 13 February | 103 | — |
| 20 February | 94 | — |
| 24 February | 93 | — |
| 14 February | 91 | — |
| 26 February | 89 | — |
Incidents Logged in 2026
| Date | Type | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb | Strike | US opening strikes destroy Iran's fleet at Bandar Abbas as Hormuz transits collapse |
| 12 Jul | Strike | US sea drones strike Bandar Abbas submarine base in first combat use of armed USVs |
| 23 Jul | Diplomatic | Germany withdraws minehunters positioned for a Hormuz clearing mission |
Reading the Numbers
2026 has recorded 5,367 transits between January 1 and September 20, an average of 20.4 per day. That is 77% below the 23,796 logged over the same span of 2025.
The busiest month was February with 2,192 transits.
The quietest month was September with 78 transits. It came in the wake of a logged incident: US sea drones strike Bandar Abbas submarine base in first combat use of armed USVs.
The peak day of the year — 127 transits on February 22 — compares with the year's daily average of 20.4. Activity was reported on 251 of the 263 days covered (95%).
The longest pause of the year was 4 consecutive days without a single reported entry, starting May 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many commercial ship transits of the Strait of Hormuz were recorded in 2026?
5,367 transits were recorded between January 1, 2026 and September 20, 2026, an average of 20.4 per day.
What was the busiest day of 2026?
The peak was 127 transits on February 22, 2026.
How does 2026 compare with 2025?
2026's total of 5,367 is 77% lower than the 23,796 recorded over the same span of 2025.
Sources: IMF PortWatch · Kpler · UN Global Platform · UK Maritime Trade Operations