Tracking data reveals a tightening grip on the waterway, with Kpler reporting that only four tankers made the passage last Thursday. While these figures rely on active transponders—meaning the actual volume of "dark" shipping remains opaque—the trend confirms a significant cooling of traffic. Analysts note that Tehran's increased pressure on the route has forced a logistical pivot among major producers.

Despite the bottleneck, JP Morgan reports that Saudi crude exports remain resilient, currently averaging 2.9 million barrels daily. The Kingdom has shifted its operational focus toward the Ras Tanura terminal on the Persian Gulf, utilizing smaller feeder vessels to move oil toward the Gulf of Oman for transshipment. This maneuver compensates for the disruption of the East-West pipeline, yet it leaves the country vulnerable elsewhere. Strikes by Houthi forces targeting the Red Sea port of Yanbu have crippled what was intended to be the primary alternative export outlet, intensifying the strain on Saudi logistics.