Which strait is a major chokepoint for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf?

Which strait is a major chokepoint for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf? The Strait of Hormuz is the key chokepoint.

This narrow waterway lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Tankers leaving major oil-producing states such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates commonly pass through it on the way to global markets.

Its importance comes from geography: the Persian Gulf has enormous petroleum production, but ships have limited routes to open waters. In 2018, oil flows through Hormuz averaged about 21 million barrels per day, roughly one-fifth of global petroleum-liquids consumption at the time. Disruption would therefore threaten supplies and raise freight, insurance, and energy costs.

Hormuz is sometimes confused with the Strait of Malacca, another vital Asian energy route, or with the Bosporus, which links the Black Sea and Mediterranean system. Hormuz is specifically the outlet for Persian Gulf energy exports. Its strategic importance has also made it a recurring focus of naval patrols, sanctions disputes, and regional security tensions.