Strait of Hormuz Daily Transits Drop to Two Vessels: What It Means for Shippers

# Strait of Hormuz Daily Transits Drop to Two Vessels: What It Means for Shippers

Daily transits through the Strait of Hormuz have fallen to as low as two vessels, with container ships and large tankers nearly absent from the strait. Meanwhile, U.S. CBP will enforce new IOR filing verification rules on September 18, and the capacity landscape is shifting: Maersk is moving from restraint to expansion, while China's shipyards took 85.4% of global newbuild orders in August. For shippers and forwarders, geopolitics, compliance rules, and capacity supply are all shifting at once — route costs and transit times need re-evaluation.

Strait of Hormuz: What Does Two Daily Transits Mean?

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil shipping lanes and the only outlet from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Daily transits falling to two vessels signals that most liner companies and tanker operators are actively avoiding the region. Iran has announced a "restricted zone" in the strait and threatened sanctions on vessels entering it, further raising uncertainty.

For shippers on Middle East/Persian Gulf routes: space availability and schedule reliability have deteriorated sharply, and carriers may adjust port calls at any time. War risk surcharges are already reflected in quotes, effectively raising transport costs. Before booking, clarify how war risk is charged and who bears the deviation risk.

CBP New Rules Effective September 18: What Is IOR Verification?

U.S. CBP (Customs and Border Protection) is strengthening IOR (Importer of Record) filing verification, effective September 18. The IOR is the entity legally responsible for imported goods in the U.S.; its filing information directly affects clearance efficiency. Under the new rules, inaccurate filings or problematic IOR qualifications may lead to clearance delays or even detention.

Shippers and forwarders serving the U.S. market should check: who is the IOR, and does the filing match the declaration; has the forwarder verified IOR compliance; is IOR responsibility for transshipment cargo clearly defined.

Capacity Shift: Maersk Expands, China Takes 85.4% of Newbuild Orders

Maersk's capacity strategy is moving from restraint to expansion, signaling that top carriers are preparing for the next cycle rather than expecting a downturn. In August, Chinese shipyards accounted for 85.4% of global newbuild orders, a record gap over South Korea, making Chinese shipbuilding capacity a key pillar of global shipping supply.

Hapag-Lloyd has also stated that port congestion may become the norm for years. Schedule reliability will remain under pressure, making customer expectation management around transit times more important than ever.

Freight Rate Divergence: US Lines Up, Europe Lines Down

Global schedule reliability continues to decline, and rates show a clear divergence: US-bound rates are surging while Europe-bound rates weaken. Drewry's WCI shows transpacific gains offset by Asia-Europe declines. Forwarders should assess each trade lane independently rather than relying on a single composite index.

Samsung Sues CMA CGM for $186 Million

Samsung has filed a complaint with the U.S. FMC (Federal Maritime Commission) against CMA CGM, claiming $186 million over alleged contract violations and unilateral service changes. The case reminds shippers: verify space guarantees, rate locks, and change-notification clauses in contracts before signing.

Pinglu Canal Opens September 16: New Southwest Export Corridor

The Pinglu Canal, set to open on September 16, is the first canal connecting rivers and sea built since the founding of New China, linking inland Guangxi to the Beibu Gulf. Southwest China cargo will gain a shorter export route than the detour through the Pearl River Delta, reshaping river-sea-rail intermodal transport.

FAQ

Q: Does the Hormuz situation affect ordinary shippers?

A: Shippers on Middle East/Persian Gulf routes are most directly affected — tight space and higher war risk surcharges. Other routes feel limited impact through freight rates.

Q: What is the CBP IOR verification and when does it take effect?

A: The IOR (Importer of Record) is the entity legally responsible for imported goods in the U.S. CBP will strengthen filing verification effective September 18, 2026; inaccurate filings may cause clearance delays or detention.

Q: Will Maersk's expansion lower freight rates?

A: Newbuild deliveries take time. Short-term rates still depend on geopolitics, demand, and port congestion; medium-term, added capacity may ease supply tightness, depending on delivery schedules.

Q: Who benefits from the Pinglu Canal opening?

A: Exporters in Guangxi and the southwest (Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan) benefit most — river-sea transport is shorter than the Pearl River Delta detour, suitable for bulk and container cargo.

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*Shanghai Naili Information Technology Co., Ltd. — 10 years of digital marketing for the freight forwarding industry. Services: freight forwarder GEO optimization, WeChat account operation, new media content, SEM, AI digital employee deployment.*