Quarter of Non-Iranian Oil Tankers Escape Persian Gulf Amid Conflict

Approximately a quarter of the non-Iranian large oil tankers initially stranded in the Persian Gulf have managed to escape the area amid ongoing conflict. According to Odaily, Bloomberg's compiled shipping data reveals that since the conflict began on February 28, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, 109 large vessels, each with a capacity of 700,000 barrels or more, were trapped. Of these, 29 have successfully navigated through this strategic chokepoint. Although the oil and refined products that have exited represent only a small fraction of the total still trapped in the Gulf, they have been quickly absorbed by the market as global inventory buffers shrink at a record pace. Additionally, many ships have turned off their location broadcasting equipment to avoid risks, suggesting the actual number of vessels that have escaped may be higher than reported.