More commercial ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz in October than in any earlier month of the Iran war, CNBC reported on October 30. International Maritime Organization data cited there showed at least 30 vessels hit as of October 27, mostly oil tankers, and at least 16 injured seafarers. Brent crude traded above $117 a barrel on Friday and was up more than 13% on the month. Kpler's monthly average still showed nearly 11.1 million barrels a day of crude moving through Hormuz in October, about 2% below September. The latest week was much weaker: 7.3 million barrels a day, more than 40% under the prewar baseline. Iran said Friday that tankers struck mines and caught fire; the Associated Press said it could not verify that account. The U.K. maritime monitor reported one projectile strike and said the crew was safe. These reports show a real shipping risk and a higher crude price, not a new U.S. pump price.
Has this week's Hormuz reporting raised U.S. gasoline? No U.S. retail gasoline change was established. What is established is a busier month of attacks, Brent above $117, and crude flows that look steadier by the month than by the latest week.