Shipping through key oil route drops, but some numbers show a six-month high

Reports on traffic in the Strait of Hormuz are mixed, leaving experts confused about the true level of activity in the vital waterway.

There is some confusion today about exactly how many ships are moving through the Strait of Hormuz. This is a very important, narrow strip of water in the Middle East where a massive amount of the world's oil is shipped. Some reports, including those from Reuters, say that traffic in the area has slowed down significantly. They note that the number of ships passing through is now lower than the usual average seen over the last ten days. In fact, one report mentioned that the number of vessels dropped as low as two at one point. However, other reports tell a different story. Officials from …