Open-status of the world's maritime straits and canals — the chokepoints through which most seaborne energy, food and goods must pass. Verified daily.
OUT = exporter countries whose goods leave through the point · IN = importer and destination countries.
Strait of HormuzstraitPersian Gulf ↔ Gulf of Oman · Persian GulfOUT→INThe world's most important oil chokepoint — roughly a fifth of global oil supply, with almost no bypass route.Iran declared the strait closed in early March 2026 after the US-Israeli air war and threatened to attack any vessel attempting passage. Commercial traffic has fallen to a trickle and has not resumed despite a conditional ceasefire.
closedchecked 2026-05-17UKMTO · EIA · Lloyd's List
Kerch StraitstraitBlack Sea ↔ Sea of Azov · Black SeaOUT→INSole maritime access to the Sea of Azov and southern Russian grain ports.The strait is a contested war zone; the bridge has been repeatedly struck and commercial transit to the Azov ports is closed.
closedchecked 2026-05-17NATO Shipping Centre · Reuters
Bab-el-MandebstraitRed Sea ↔ Gulf of Aden · Red SeaOUT→INGateway to Suez — normally ~12% of global trade and ~30% of container traffic.At a moderate threat level: the Houthis have warned they will resume attacks on shipping if the Gaza ceasefire fails or the Iran war escalates. Major carriers have suspended transits and continue to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope.
disruptedchecked 2026-05-17UKMTO · Reuters
Suez CanalcanalMediterranean Sea ↔ Red Sea · EgyptOUT→INThe Europe–Asia maritime artery — about 12–15% of global trade in normal times.The canal itself is fully operable, but transits have fallen sharply as Red Sea risk diverts shipping around Africa. Toll revenue is well below normal.
restrictedchecked 2026-05-17Suez Canal Authority
Taiwan StraitstraitEast China Sea ↔ South China Sea · East AsiaOUT→INCarries a large share of East Asian container and LNG traffic.Commercial transit continues, but recurrent military exercises and exclusion zones force periodic rerouting and lift insurance costs.
restrictedchecked 2026-05-17Taiwan MOTC · Reuters
Strait of MalaccastraitAndaman Sea ↔ South China Sea · Southeast AsiaOUT→INThe main Indian Ocean–Pacific route — most of China's and Japan's seaborne oil.Operating normally. Traffic density and piracy in the southern approaches remain the standing risks.
openchecked 2026-05-17ReCAAP · MPA Singapore
Strait of TiranstraitGulf of Aqaba ↔ Red Sea · Red SeaOUT→INSole sea access to the ports of Aqaba (Jordan) and Eilat (Israel).Open to navigation; traffic to the Gulf of Aqaba is depressed by the wider Red Sea disruption.
openchecked 2026-05-17UKMTO
BosphorusstraitBlack Sea ↔ Sea of Marmara · Turkish StraitsOUT→INThe export route for Black Sea grain, oil and the Russian shadow fleet.Operating normally under the Montreux Convention, with the usual tight traffic control through Istanbul. War-risk insurance is the standing cost on the Black Sea grain and oil trade beyond the strait.
openchecked 2026-05-17Turkish Straits VTS · JCC
Danish StraitsstraitBaltic Sea ↔ North Sea · Baltic SeaOUT→INThe only outlet for Baltic — and much Russian — oil exports.Operating normally; heightened monitoring of the Russian shadow fleet and subsea-infrastructure security.
openchecked 2026-05-17Danish Maritime Authority
Cape of Good HoperouteAtlantic Ocean ↔ Indian Ocean · Southern AfricaOUT→INThe around-Africa alternative to Suez, carrying most diverted shipping.Open and congested — the default diversion route while the Red Sea is disrupted, adding 10–14 days to Asia–Europe voyages.
openchecked 2026-05-17South African Maritime Safety Authority
DardanellesstraitSea of Marmara ↔ Aegean Sea · Turkish StraitsOUT→INThe southern half of the Turkish Straits, completing the Black Sea outlet.Operating normally under Montreux rules, the southern half of the Turkish Straits. Friction lies in Black Sea war-risk insurance rather than the strait itself.
openchecked 2026-05-17Turkish Straits VTS
Corinth CanalcanalGulf of Corinth ↔ Saronic Gulf · GreeceOUT→INA scenic shortcut through the Isthmus of Corinth, marginal for cargo.Open seasonally to small craft only after repeated landslide closures; no commercial cargo transit.
restrictedchecked 2026-05-17Corinth Canal SA
Sunda StraitstraitJava Sea ↔ Indian Ocean · Southeast AsiaOUT→INAn alternative Indian Ocean–Pacific passage between Java and Sumatra.Operating normally; a secondary route used when Malacca is congested.
openchecked 2026-05-17Indonesian Sea Transport
Mozambique ChannelstraitIndian Ocean (Africa ↔ Madagascar) · Southern AfricaOUT→INOn the Cape of Good Hope diversion route; growing LNG export hub.Operating normally with rising traffic as ships diverting around Africa pass through; piracy risk is monitored.
openchecked 2026-05-17MDAT-GoG
Panama CanalcanalAtlantic Ocean ↔ Pacific Ocean · Central AmericaOUT→INThe Atlantic–Pacific shortcut — about 5% of global maritime trade.Operating at full capacity for the first time since the 2023 drought, with reservoirs near record levels and no transit restrictions in place. A mid-2026 El Niño watch flags a risk of renewed draft limits later in the year.
openchecked 2026-05-17Panama Canal Authority
Palk StraitstraitPalk Bay ↔ Gulf of Mannar · South AsiaOUT→INSeparates India and Sri Lanka; limited to coastal and fishing traffic.Naturally shallow and unsuitable for deep-draft vessels; large ships route around Sri Lanka.
restrictedchecked 2026-05-17Indian Ports Association
Strait of DoverstraitEnglish Channel ↔ North Sea · Northwest EuropeOUT→INThe North Sea–Atlantic link for northwest European trade.Operating normally — the world's busiest shipping lane under traffic separation.
openchecked 2026-05-17UK MCA · CROSS Gris-Nez
English ChannelstraitAtlantic Ocean ↔ North Sea · Northwest EuropeOUT→INA primary artery for northern European and transatlantic shipping.Operating normally under traffic separation schemes.
openchecked 2026-05-17UK MCA
ØresundstraitBaltic Sea ↔ Kattegat · Baltic SeaOUT→INA principal Baltic outlet alongside the Great Belt.Operating normally; one of the three Danish Straits, bridged at Copenhagen–Malmö.
openchecked 2026-05-17Danish Maritime Authority
Lombok StraitstraitJava Sea ↔ Indian Ocean · Southeast AsiaOUT→INThe deep-draft alternative to Malacca for capesize vessels.Operating normally; deep enough for the largest bulk carriers and tankers.
openchecked 2026-05-17Indonesian Sea Transport
Makassar StraitstraitCelebes Sea ↔ Java Sea · Southeast AsiaOUT→INLinks the Pacific to the Java Sea between Borneo and Sulawesi.Operating normally; a key route for Indonesian coal and inter-island trade.
openchecked 2026-05-17Indonesian Sea Transport
Strait of SicilystraitWestern Mediterranean ↔ Eastern Mediterranean · Central MediterraneanOUT→INThe Mediterranean's central narrows between Sicily and Tunisia.Operating normally; carries Mediterranean east–west traffic and submarine cables.
openchecked 2026-05-17Italian Coast Guard
Bering StraitstraitPacific Ocean ↔ Arctic Ocean · ArcticOUT→INThe entry to Arctic shipping between Alaska and Russia.Open seasonally; the Pacific gateway to the Northern Sea Route, ice-bound in winter.
openchecked 2026-05-17US Coast Guard · Roshydromet
Saint Lawrence SeawaycanalAtlantic Ocean ↔ Great Lakes · North AmericaOUT→INThe inland route for North American grain, iron ore and steel.Open for the navigation season; the system closes each year through the deep-winter freeze.
openchecked 2026-05-17St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.
Strait of GibraltarstraitAtlantic Ocean ↔ Mediterranean Sea · Western MediterraneanOUT→INThe sole Atlantic gateway to the Mediterranean.Operating normally with heavy, well-managed traffic.
openchecked 2026-05-17Spanish Maritime Safety Agency
Kiel CanalcanalNorth Sea ↔ Baltic Sea · GermanyOUT→INShortcut sparing ships the long passage around Denmark.Operating normally; the busiest artificial waterway in the world by transits.
openchecked 2026-05-17German Waterways Administration
Strait of OtrantostraitAdriatic Sea ↔ Ionian Sea · AdriaticOUT→INControls access to Italian, Croatian and Balkan Adriatic ports.Operating normally; the entrance to the Adriatic.
openchecked 2026-05-17Italian Coast Guard
Windward PassagestraitAtlantic Ocean ↔ Caribbean Sea · CaribbeanOUT→INLinks the Atlantic to the Caribbean between Cuba and Hispaniola.Operating normally; a main route between the US East Coast and the Panama Canal.
openchecked 2026-05-17US Coast Guard
Drake PassagerouteAtlantic Ocean ↔ Pacific Ocean · Southern OceanOUT→INThe deep-water route around Cape Horn, used by the largest vessels.Open; severe weather is the constant constraint on this exposed southern route.
openchecked 2026-05-17Chilean Navy
Florida StraitsstraitGulf of Mexico ↔ Atlantic Ocean · CaribbeanOUT→INThe outlet for US Gulf refining and LNG exports.Operating normally; carries Gulf Coast oil and product exports to the Atlantic.
openchecked 2026-05-17US Coast Guard
Yucatán ChannelstraitCaribbean Sea ↔ Gulf of Mexico · CaribbeanOUT→INThe western Caribbean gateway into the Gulf of Mexico.Operating normally; feeds the Gulf Stream and Gulf-bound traffic.
openchecked 2026-05-17US Coast Guard
Strait of MagellanstraitAtlantic Ocean ↔ Pacific Ocean · South AmericaOUT→INThe historic southern passage around South America.Operating normally; a sheltered alternative to the open Drake Passage.
openchecked 2026-05-17Chilean Navy
Torres StraitstraitArafura Sea ↔ Coral Sea · OceaniaOUT→INThe passage between Australia and Papua New Guinea.Operating normally; compulsory pilotage applies in the shallow, reef-strewn channel.
openchecked 2026-05-17Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Strait of MessinastraitTyrrhenian Sea ↔ Ionian Sea · Central MediterraneanOUT→INThe narrow passage between Sicily and the Italian mainland.Operating normally; strong currents require pilotage for large vessels.
openchecked 2026-05-17Italian Coast Guard
Cook StraitstraitTasman Sea ↔ South Pacific Ocean · OceaniaOUT→INSeparates New Zealand's North and South Islands.Operating normally; weather-exposed but a routine domestic and regional route.
openchecked 2026-05-17Maritime New Zealand