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2 Chinese supertankers join flotilla exiting Hormuz as stand-off appears to thaw

Three fully laden supertankers – including two Chinese vessels – crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, in a possible sign that Tehran may be…

By Samantha Johnson / May 21, 2026
Three fully laden supertankers – including two Chinese vessels – crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, in a possible sign that Tehran may be starting to open up the vital waterway to more shipping traffic.

The exit of the three very large crude carriers (VLCCs) came on the same day that Iran confirmed it had allowed 26 vessels to transit the strait – a hefty uptick compared with the level of traffic Iranian forces have generally permitted since the war began.

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The moves appeared to signal an easing of the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen daily transits plunge to around 10 on average in recent weeks – down from more than 100 before the conflict erupted, according to vessel tracking data.

But analysts cautioned that it was too early to tell whether the latest announcements were a one-off or the start of a broader trend.

The three supertankers were carrying a combined 6 million barrels of oil out of the Persian Gulf, data from shipping database myvessel.cn showed. They were likely allowed to exit without paying Iran a toll, according to industry insiders and a government statement.

The Chinese VLCCs involved are the Yuan Gui Yang, owned by the state-run Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation, and the Ocean Lily, which is a Hong Kong-flagged vessel owned by a firm managed by a subsidiary of the Chinese energy giant Sinochem Corporation.

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The Yuan Gui Yang is scheduled to arrive at Shuidong port in China’s southern Guangdong province on June 4, while the Ocean Lily is expected at Meizhouwan port in the southeastern Fujian province on June 7.

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