Maritime traffic linked to the Strait of Hormuz -- one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints -- has fallen by 95.3 percent since late February, a United Nations spokesman said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, spokesman Stephane Dujarric cited the newly launched online tracking dashboard by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which monitors global shipping flows in near real-time. The data shows that from February 28 to present, vessel movements associated with the strategic waterway have nearly halted, raising urgent concerns about energy security and supply chain stability.
The sharp decline in maritime activity has already sent ripples through global commodity markets. International prices for staple food commodities have risen by 6 percent, while European crude oil benchmarks have surged 53 percent over the same period.
Ship traffic through Strait of Hormuz plummets 95.3 pct: UN data
