26OCT

Hormuz toll system carried 20 transits per day before ceasefire

1 min read

15:07UTC

Eleven flag states had paid the toll to transit by 5 April; the ceasefire ratifies the operating model.

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Key takeaway

The toll system Iran built was already running before the ceasefire; the ceasefire just labelled it.

The 20 daily transits across 11 flag states are the operational reality the ceasefire's 'coordinated passage' clause now ratifies. Iran's permanent customs authority over the strait, legislated in late March, turned out to be the architecture both sides have now signed onto.

The recovery from near-zero transits in late March to 20/day by 5 April happened through individual bilateral toll deals, not through any US enforcement action. Trump's Truth Social formulation that the US 'will be helping with the traffic buildup in the strait of Hormuz' aligns the rhetoric with the operating reality.

Deep Analysis

In plain English

Eleven countries had already been paying Iran for permission to send ships through the strait of Hormuz before the ceasefire was signed. Twenty ships went through per day on 5 April, compared to about 138 a day before the war. The deal Trump just signed says Iran will keep doing exactly this for two weeks.

What could happen next?

Precedent
The toll system is operating practice and now codified in the ceasefire.

Sources:Seatrade Maritime

Mentions:Windward →Iraq →Malaysia →Philippines →France →Fars News →Iran →India →Truth Social →China →Oman →Japan →Russia →Strait of Hormuz →Thailand →Pakistan →

First Reported In

Update #62 · Two victories, two different lists

Seatrade Maritime· 8 Apr 2026

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Causes and effects

Caused by

Iran's Hormuz Toll Matures Into Permanent Institution

Iran's permanent customs authority over the Strait, legislated late March, was the architecture the ceasefire's coordinated-passage clause now ratifies.

Occurred 6 Apr 2026

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This Event

Hormuz toll system carried 20 transits per day before ceasefire

The operating universe of 'coordinated passage' before the ceasefire formalised it.

Led to

Seven Ships Cross Hormuz, No Oil Tankers

The 20/day transit level reached by 5 April under the toll regime has been cut further by ceasefire Day 3 conditions — the ceasefire has reduced traffic rather than increased it.

Occurred 10 Apr 2026

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Hormuz trickle: five then seven vessels

The 5 and 7 vessel transit counts on 9-10 April are far below the 20 transits per day the toll regime was producing on 5 April, showing the ceasefire has produced fewer transits than the blockade.

Occurred 10 Apr 2026

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Different Perspectives

Nigerian Air Force

The air force listed 12 Turkish Aksungur and two Chinese CH-4D armed drones on 25 October. No contract has been published, so these are plans.

Civilians in Western Sahara

A UN report of October 2023 records allegations of Moroccan drone strikes east of the berm. An aerial strike there in November 2022 reportedly killed six civilians, the UN said, citing Polisario and local media.

Thunder Tiger

The Taichung company said on 16 October that all 1,520 of its Gauntlet I attack drones passed inspection. Its MoU with AeroVironment covers fitting Switchblade to its uncrewed boats and ground vehicles and exploring joint production in Taiwan.

EDGE Group

The Emirati group said on 9 October it will supply glide bombs and guidance kits for the Royal Moroccan Air Force's armed drones. A separate memorandum explores making small arms and aero engines in Morocco.

Rajnath Singh

India's Defence Acquisition Council, which he chairs, approved about Rs 2.12 lakh crore of proposals on 26 October, including kamikaze drones and tank-mounted counter-drone systems. About 82 per cent of the value is to go to Indian industry, by the ministry's account.

Kongsberg

The Norwegian group said on 13 October it will invest more than 200m zlotys in a Pomeranian plant to build and maintain SAN counter-drone systems. It expects series output to begin in the first half of 2028.

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Editorial standards.