Oil Flows Continue Through Hormuz Despite Rising Tanker Attacks

Crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz continue despite a sharp increase in Iranian attacks on commercial vessels. These shipments rely on a U.S.-backed shipping corridor that currently faces record-high operational costs.

While tanker traffic continues, the stability of these routes is fragile as shipping expenses soar. The long-term viability of military-escorted transit is also under scrutiny. According to UK Maritime Trade Operations, there have been nine attacks in the Strait of Hormuz this month. This figure matches half of the total incidents recorded across both the Strait and the Persian Gulf throughout September.

"Iran appears to be seeking to assert greater control over the Strait of Hormuz through one of its most established instruments of coercion: fear and uncertainty," said Dimitris Maniatis, chief executive officer of risk management firm Marisks.

The Cost of Navigating Risk

The financial burden of maintaining these flows is reaching unprecedented levels. As of Monday, the cost to ship crude oil from the Persian Gulf to China hit a record $1.3 million per day per tanker, according to an industry report. For comparison, the average daily cost for similar shipments last year was approximately $60,000.

This surge in costs is driven by the necessity of a shuttle system and the reliance on U.S. military-protected corridors. These mechanisms allow tankers to bypass immediate threats, but they introduce inefficiencies and high insurance premiums that are being passed through the supply chain.

Impact on Regional Oil Throughput

Despite these efforts, total volume remains lower than historical norms. Crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz averaged approximately 10.3 million barrels per day for the week ended October 3, 2026, according to data cited by CNBC. This current throughput is 23% below the prewar baseline of 13.5 million barrels per day.

Sustainability Concerns

The reliance on U.S. naval assets to secure commercial transit has raised questions about the durability of the current arrangement. The combination of high financial overhead and the ongoing military commitment creates a structural imbalance that analysts suggest cannot be maintained indefinitely.

"Nobody in Washington thinks this is sustainable financially," said Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy and a former energy advisor to President George W. Bush, regarding the U.S. military commitment and current shipping inefficiencies.