3 facts
The Strait of Hormuz is not just an oil chokepoint — it is also the only exit for Qatar's massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. Qatar is the world's largest LNG exporter, supplying Europe and Asia. Any closure of the strait would simultaneously cut off both global oil and LNG supply, a double economic blow without precedent.
Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz during periods of heightened tension with the West on multiple occasions, most notably in 2011–2012 and 2018–2019. Even a brief closure would send oil prices soaring and trigger a global economic shock, as there are no adequate pipeline alternatives that could absorb the full volume of traffic.
Roughly 17–21 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products transit the Strait of Hormuz daily, representing about 20% of global oil consumption. No other maritime chokepoint on Earth comes close — making it the single most important oil corridor in the world, and a constant focus of geopolitical tension.
