Strait of Hormuz Tanker Traffic Hits Two-Month Low on Attacks

### Money Play Energy & climate policy: Lease, export, OPEC, and subsidy shifts move energy equities fast. Watch $XLE+WL as crude transit volumes through the Strait of Hormuz drop to a two-month low amid rising security incidents.

## Catalyst Analysis: Strait of Hormuz Traffic Slumps

Crude oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz fell 27% from the previous week's wartime high to at least 10.1 million barrels a day, according to Kpler analysts. The decline follows a sharp escalation in maritime security incidents, with Reuters reporting at least 12 attacks on tankers carrying crude oil, liquid petroleum gas, and liquefied natural gas between September 28 and October 2, citing data from the U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center.

While September crude flows had partially recovered toward pre-war averages, the recent surge in regional hostilities has pushed commodity carrier traffic to its lowest level since late July. Analysts noted that the steepest pullback occurred in vessels supporting ship-to-ship crude transfers in the Gulf of Oman.

## Technical Analysis & Key Risk Watch

Key levels for $XLE+WL (educational): R2 $62.72 · R1 $62.11 · last $62.04 · S1 $61.79 · S2 $61.31. Energy equities face heightened volatility as traders weigh persistent geopolitical risks against shifting maritime transit volumes in the Persian Gulf.

## Impact on Energy Sector

Supply chain disruptions in critical Middle Eastern transit choke points directly influence global crude pricing dynamics and regional export flows, impacting broader energy sector positioning.