A SURGE in Iran‑linked bulker traffic is moving through the Strait of Hormuz, with vessels tied to Tehran accounting for every trackable transit since March 15.

The uptick follows more than two weeks without a single westbound passage and shows that, despite widespread claims the strait is “closed,” Iran is selectively permitting movements by ships it considers friendly, allowing grain imports to resume.

Every bulker transiting eastbound or westbound since March 15 has had an Iranian nexus, either Iran‑owned or with a history of trading with the country, with the last non‑Iran‑linked passage recorded on March 14.

Four bulk carriers have already entered the Middle East Gulf. The first was Oceanbulk Maritime’s Liberia-flagged, 81,713 dwt Giacometti (IMO: 9615377) on March 20.

Fellow Greek-owned, Liberia-flagged panamax Christianna (IMO: 9596703) transited on March 25, while Barbados-flagged, 55,947 dwt NJ Jupiter (IMO: 9302841) looked to be taking the approve corridor around Larak Island at 0843 hrs on March 26.

Sanctioned Iran-flagged bulker Ardavan (IMO: 9465863) also made the voyage through the approved corridor on March 23, arriving at anchorage off Bandar Imam Khomeini on March 25.

Most of Iran’s imports arrive by sea, especially grains from South America and Russia. The country is heavily dependent on these seaborne grain flows, which enter the Middle East Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz before moving north to Bandar Imam Khomeini.

While the exact cargoes on the three bulkers bound for Bandar Imam Khomeini are unclear, nearly 75% of all discharge at the port is grain, and when other agricultural products such as sugar and canola are included, the share rises to almost 100%.

There have been increased eastbound transits too though. Malta-flagged panamaxes Zea (IMO: 9628087) and Glykofiloussa (IMO: 9296236) have ballasted eastbound through the strait in recent days.

Marshall Islands‑flagged panamax Lotus Rising (IMO: 9217656) also approached the chokepoint in ballast before making a U‑turn around 1130 hrs and heading south toward the UAE coast. AIS data indicates a previous call at Bandar Khomeini, and the vessel is China‑owned. All bulkers exiting the MEG in recent days have likewise traded with Iran. 

Since March 15, Every trackable bulker transit has taken the route around Larak Island which Lloyd’s List understands has been approved by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has insisted the strait is not closed, only restricted to Iran’s “enemies.”

He said “many vessels” had contacted Iran requesting safe passage, and that ships from “friendly countries” were being granted access through the strait.

“In the future, we are looking to think of new arrangements for safe passage there, which are being studied,” he said.

Lloyd’s List has already reported on two vessels making payments to Tehran to guarantee safe passage, settled in yuan.

Before the conflict, the prevailing view was that Iran would never blockade the Strait of Hormuz because it would hurt its own economy as much as anyone else’s.

Yet in the bulk trades, Iran is now showing it can move imports in and send empty vessels out when it chooses. Between March 13 and March 19, seven Iran‑linked bulkers transited the strait; since March 20, that number has almost doubled to 13.

There are, however, still some bulk carriers drifting in the gulf, unable or unwilling to transit through the strait. Panama-flagged, 46,678 dwt Yong Ji LI (IMO: 9119995), for example, has been lingering at the entrance to the Gulf of Oman since March 19. The bulker is broadcasting Abu Dhabi as its destination on its AIS.

All Strait of Hormuz transits are verified by Lloyd's List Intelligence expert analysts using our AIS vessel tracking data, advanced analytics, and on-the-ground human intelligence to ensure even dark or GNSS-disrupted movements are captured. Lloyd’s List Intelligence subscribers can activate the Strait of Hormuz transit watchlist here