Asian shipping companies may soon resume sailing through the Strait of Hormuz amid a fragile truce between the United States and Iran, industry representatives said at the FT Global Commodities Forum.
According to them, Asian operators are more willing to take risks and pay transit fees, unlike Western companies that comply with sanctions, Reuters reports.
Hundreds of tankers and cargo ships have been stranded in the Persian Gulf since late February, causing the biggest energy supply disruption in history. Although some vessels were able to leave the area over the weekend, Iranian forces quickly blocked the movement, firing warning shots and turning some of the ships back. According to industry sources, at least three container ships have been fired upon in the strait.
Experts note that for now, passage is mainly possible for state-owned ships that rely on diplomatic support or military escorts. Private commercial operators remain more cautious due to the risks to crews and high insurance costs, which are likely to increase further.
Meanwhile, Tehran is tightening traffic control by introducing transit fees, which further increases costs for shipowners. However, analysts say that if the situation stabilizes, the global fleet could quickly react and restore traffic through the strategic sea route.