[Shipping Traffic Through Hormuz Strait Drops Sharply Amid Renewed Conflict, Transport Costs Rise] BlockBeats News, July 11: Since the renewed conflict between the U.S. and Iran earlier this week, shipping traffic through the Hormuz Strait has significantly decreased. According to Kpler data, the number of vessels passing through the strait on Thursday dropped to 22 from 30 the previous day. On Tuesday local time, tensions escalated again after Iran targeted vessels in the strait, including damaging a Qatari LNG transport ship. Since the mutual attacks began on Tuesday, only two LNG ships have entered the strait, with one exiting. After the U.S. and Iran signed an agreement on June 17 to initiate negotiations to end the conflict, shipping traffic had increased, reaching a peak a few days later. However, the ceasefire was subsequently broken. On Friday, shipping brokerage firm Braemar LNG stated in a client report that shipowners are adopting a cautious approach and have withdrawn available capacity from the region "until the geopolitical situation becomes clearer." This move has reduced the number of available vessels, driving up transport costs.