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 | 1,746 | 56.3 | 73 · 9 Jan |
| February | 1,958 | 69.9 | 125 · 22 Feb |
| March | 86 | 2.8 | 18 · 1 Mar |
| April | 149 | 5.0 | 20 · 18 Apr |
| May | 98 | 3.2 | 7 · 20 May |
| June | 321 | 10.7 | 44 · 24 Jun |
| July | 261 | 8.4 | 27 · 1 Jul |
| August · partial | 36 | 4.0 | 8 · 8 Aug |
Busiest Days of 2026
| Date | Transits | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 22 February | 125 | — |
| 25 February | 112 | — |
| 13 February | 97 | — |
| 14 February | 91 | — |
| 19 February | 88 | — |
| 20 February | 88 | — |
| 23 February | 88 | — |
| 26 February | 86 | — |
| 21 February | 79 | — |
| 11 February | 76 | — |
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 4,655 transits between January 1 and August 9, an average of 21.1 per day. That is 74% below the 17,786 logged over the same span of 2025.
The busiest month was February with 1,958 transits.
The quietest month was August with 36 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 — 125 transits on February 22 — compares with the year's daily average of 21.1. Activity was reported on 204 of the 221 days covered (92%).
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?
4,655 transits were recorded between January 1, 2026 and August 9, 2026, an average of 21.1 per day.
What was the busiest day of 2026?
The peak was 125 transits on February 22, 2026.
How does 2026 compare with 2025?
2026's total of 4,655 is 74% lower than the 17,786 recorded over the same span of 2025.
Sources: IMF PortWatch · Kpler · UN Global Platform · UK Maritime Trade Operations