India-Bound Shipping through Strait of Hormuz Rises despite Renewed West Asia Tensions, India

According to shipping sources, seven of the nine vessels are carrying cargo destined for India. This takes the total number of India-bound ships that have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz to 44 since the onset of the current US-Israel-Iran conflict on February 28.   Of the nine recent transits, four vessels are India-flagged while five sail under foreign flags. Additionally, 15 ships of Indian interest remain in the Persian Gulf awaiting a safe opportunity to transit the strait. These include 10 India-flagged vessels, of which four are carrying fertilisers and one is transporting energy cargo. Among the latest transits, the India-flagged bulk carrier APJ Priti 2, carrying approximately 65,000 tonnes of fertilisers, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. A day earlier, the crude oil tanker Desh Suraksha, loaded with over 100,000 tonnes of crude oil, and Prabhu Parvati, carrying 18,732 tonnes of cargo, also completed safe passage through the strategic chokepoint.       The movement comes even as tensions in the region escalated following US military strikes against Iran after an alleged attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. Iran has since responded with retaliatory actions, raising fresh concerns over the security of one of the world’s busiest energy and trade corridors.     Shipping data indicates a notable increase in vessel movements since diplomatic engagement resumed between Iran and the United States. While only 19 India-bound transits were recorded between March 1 and June 17, the number has risen sharply, with 25 ships crossing the strait in the ten days following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries on June 17.   Of the 44 India-bound vessels that have transited the Strait of Hormuz since March 1, 15 are bulk carriers, 13 are LPG carriers, 11 are crude oil tankers, and two are LNG carriers, underscoring the continued importance of the route for India’s energy security and essential commodity imports.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, handling a significant share of global crude oil, LNG and bulk commodity shipments, making its uninterrupted operation vital for international trade and India’s supply chain resilience.