Two Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz

As of Tuesday, 50 vessels flying Indian or foreign flags have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the Middle East conflict on February 28, transporting cargo to India.

Situation in the Persian Gulf

Currently, only nine Indian vessels are in the Persian Gulf region, located west of the Strait of Hormuz, carrying 198 Indian crew members. An official representative of the Ministry of Shipping stated that the vessels are not under attack and continue to operate or participate in activities in this region.

There is no information on whether Indian vessels expect to pass through the strait into West Asia to pick up new cargo shipments. Industry insiders believe that shipping lines may require additional time to plan the resumption of sailings to this area.

Characteristics of Transit Vessels

Officials reported that while 18 vessels under other flags have safely passed through the strait, the remaining 32 vessels have foreign registration. Among the vessels that have passed so far, bulk carriers constitute the largest number—a maximum of 19—along with 14 vessels transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 12 tankers carrying crude oil. The remaining vessels include two LNG carriers and one container ship.

Development of Port Infrastructure

Kamaraj Port in Tamil Nadu has become the second port owned by the central government or major ports to reach an operational depth of 18 meters, following Visakhapatnam Port. Minister of Shipping Sarbananda Sonaval noted that this is another important milestone on the way to creating modern, future-ready maritime infrastructure that will contribute to India's economic growth and global trade.

According to an official statement, following the easing of tensions between Iran and the US, fifteen vessels transporting fertilizers and their raw materials have crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are heading to India.

Arrival of Cargo and Reserves

Government bodies reported on Saturday that a total of fifteen ships carrying fertilizers and necessary components destined for India have passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The arrival of these ships in the coming days will significantly replenish the country's fertilizer reserves.

These vessels include eight carrying 0.33 million tons of urea, four carrying 0.25 million tons of diammonium phosphate (DAP), and three transporting 0.11 million tons of sulfur. Previously, sources indicated that about twenty ships with fertilizers and raw materials intended for India were delayed on the opposite side of the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict between Iran and the US. Fifteen of these have now crossed the strait, while five are still expected.

Details of Remaining Ships

According to the official statement, among the five remaining ships, three are carrying urea, and one is carrying ammonia. These ships are also planned to depart for India within several days. The statement specified that one vessel carries 25,000 tons of ammonia, and another carries 45,000 tons of urea. Additionally, two other ships are being loaded with urea, and one with sulfur, which will further strengthen the country's fertilizer stocks.

Production and Supply Restoration

Furthermore, it was noted that thanks to ongoing efforts to supply natural gas to fertilizer plants—which had dropped to approximately 65 percent of the required volume immediately after the war—supplies have fully recovered to 100 percent. As a result, all urea production facilities in the country are operating at full capacity, leading to a significant increase in domestic production.

Urea Production Dynamics

In April 2026, India produced about 2.09 million tons of urea, exceeding the target of 2.03 million tons. In May, this volume rose to 2.51 million tons against a target of 2.25 million tons. In June, production reached about 2.53 million tons compared to a planned 2.46 million tons. Overall, in the first quarter of the fiscal year 27 (April-June), India produced 7.15 million tons of urea against a target of 6.78 million tons, surpassing the plan by 0.36 million tons.

Other Products

In addition to urea, from April to June, India produced 0.98 million tons of DAP against a target of 0.86 million tons, as well as 2.07 million tons of NPKS and 1.35 million tons of SSP. Consequently, current fertilizer stocks in India are equivalent to more than 51 percent of the Kharif season requirement, which is higher than the usual level of 33 percent.

According to collected data, 48 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz following the incidents.