Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains very weak. According to Reuters and data provider Kpler, only four cargo ships or commodity vessels were registered on Thursday. The ten-day average stood at 16 ships. The figures were unusually low in the preceding days as well. However, the data should be read with caution. Some ships operate with AIS disabled. AIS is the Automatic Identification System, through which position and vessel data are transmitted. Such so-called dark transits are not uncommon in tense regions. Hormuz thus remains a major risk factor for energy and sea freight markets. The Bab el-Mandeb continues to be affected as well.