dijlahpoint - Specialized maritime data revealed on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) a notable slowdown in navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, as most shipowners avoid the vital waterway due to a lack of clear indicators regarding its full reopening. Statistics showed that only six commercial vessels transited the strait on Tuesday, down from nine on Monday. Concurrently, major global shipping companies have decided to keep their tankers away from the Straits of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb due to escalating security concerns. While US President Donald Trump asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is "open," his statements contradict previous Iranian affirmations of its continued closure. Conversely, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea saw a relative increase in vessel traffic earlier this week.