Global Shipping Giants Warn of Months-Long Delay to Restore Normalcy in Strait of Hormuz

Despite the US-Iran truce, major shipping lines warn that traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted. Discover why 400 tankers are still waiting to pass.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 8:47 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CNBC

A Supervised Pause Rather Than Free Navigation

The recent "fragile truce" mediated by Pakistan has failed to immediately restore the vital energy artery that carries approximately 20% of the world’s oil and gas. Maritime experts describe the current state of the Strait of Hormuz not as a reopening, but as a "supervised pause" under the strict oversight of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, transit volumes remain at a fraction of prewar levels, with only a handful of vessels recorded passing through a designated corridor west of Larak Island. This restricted flow is a direct result of Iran’s demand for "intelligent control" over the waterway, a condition that has left hundreds of tankers anchored in uncertainty.

Operational Gridlock and Global Supply Backlogs

The logistical challenge of restarting one of the world’s most complex shipping routes is immense, with Hapag-Lloyd’s communications chief, Nils Haupt, stating that it will take months to reintroduce original shipping schedules. The problem extends beyond the strait itself; hundreds of thousands of containers are currently stranded at transshipment hubs in India, Oman, and Pakistan, awaiting entry into the Persian Gulf. Even if diplomatic talks in Islamabad progress, the backlog of over 3200 vessels—including nearly 800 energy tankers—creates a physical congestion that cannot be cleared overnight. Hapag-Lloyd confirmed it is currently "refraining" from transiting the area until a more stable risk assessment can be conducted.

The Deterrent of Unofficial Tolls and Compensation Demands

A new layer of diplomatic tension has emerged following reports that Iran has begun charging "compensation fees" to tankers passing through the waterway. President Donald Trump addressed these reports via Truth Social, warning that Iran "better not be" charging tolls and demanding that the practice "stop now." Internal reports suggest the Iranian regime may be seeking payments of up to $1 per barrel, potentially payable in cryptocurrency, as a form of war reparations. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei recently stated that the management of the strait has entered a "new phase" where legal and material accountability for war damages will be pursued, a stance that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled "completely u...