AP Møller-Mærsk still has seven ships stuck in the Arabian Gulf, amid developments related to the US and Israeli attack on Iran and the subsequent actions in the Strait of Hormuz. AP Møller-Mærsk told TV 2 that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has not changed anything in its situation, as seven of its ships remain stuck in the Arabian Gulf.
The company referred to a statement it issued last Wednesday, in which it confirmed that it is taking a “cautious approach” in dealing with the situation in the Gulf.
Clarification regarding the number of ships in the area
The company had previously announced that it had ten ships in the Arabian Gulf as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but this number included three ships that were carrying a number of Maersk containers on board.
The company's stance on Iranian ports
Maersk stated that it does not usually dock at Iranian ports, and had not done so even before the start of the US-Israeli attack on Iran at the end of February.
The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz applies only to shipping to and from Iranian ports.
Maritime organization: There is no legal basis for the blockade
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has confirmed that no country – including the United States – is allowed to obstruct navigation in straits used by international shipping.
The organization's secretary-general, Arsenio Dominguez, told BBC Radio 4 that what was happening represented a "dangerous precedent".
He added: “I understand there is a dispute there, but there is still no legal basis in international law to take measures to close the straits used for international shipping.”.
Expectations of a significant drop in oil demand
In a related context, developments related to the attack on Iran have led the International Energy Agency to make a significant change in its forecasts regarding global oil demand, according to its monthly report issued on Tuesday.
The organization expects the second quarter of 2026 to see the largest quarterly drop in oil demand since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Consumption declined in several regions
The organization noted that consumption of petroleum products has declined mainly in the Middle East and Asia, with expectations that this decline will extend to other regions as oil prices continue to rise.
