Global shipowners are expected to remain cautious about resuming regular transit through the Strait of Hormuz, with industry leaders warning that confidence in the vital waterway will take time to rebuild despite the emerging US-Iran peace agreement.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) President and Chief Executive Officer Jotaro Tamura said shipping companies would require tangible improvements in regional security before returning vessels to the route in significant numbers.
“What will have to come in place is not just a simple agreement between the relevant countries, but it has to be material and translated into the real situations in the Strait of Hormuz, so that shipping lines can make themselves comfortable to go through,” Tamura said.
The conflict, which erupted on February 28 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, severely disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies. The disruption also affected shipments of key commodities including aluminium and urea.
Tamura noted that restoring confidence among shipowners could take several weeks even after a formal agreement is reached.
“Given the experiences in the last couple of months, I think it’s reasonable to assume that it may take at least a couple of weeks or, if not a month,” he said.
According to the Financial Times, the progress being made toward finalising the agreement between Washington and Tehran has not altered MOL’s cautious assessment.
MOL, one of Japan’s largest shipping companies, operates a fleet of more than 900 vessels spanning tankers, bulk carriers, ferries and other vessel segments.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump struck an optimistic tone, stating on his Truth Social platform that oil tankers had begun moving through the Strait of Hormuz again. He described the southern shipping route as “totally safe, secure, and pristine.”
Despite the political breakthrough, shipping executives and insurers are expected to closely monitor security conditions, naval activity and risk assessments before fully restoring vessel movements through the Gulf, suggesting that a gradual recovery in maritime traffic is more likely than an immediate return to normal operations.
