More than 20 vessels passed the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, data from shipping analytics firm Kpler showed, the highest number of ships crossing the waterway since March 1, Reuters reports.

Among the vessels that made it through on Saturday, five of them ⁠last loaded cargoes from Iran ranging from oil products to metals. Three of them are liquefied petroleum gas carriers with one each heading to China and India.

The other ships that passed through the Strait of Hormuz were carrying oil, petrochemical raw materials, and fertilizers exported from the UAE and Bahrain.

A cargo ship carrying petroleum coke loaded from Saudi Arabia was also among the ships that passed through the strait.

Following the start of the US-Israeli military operations on February 28 against Iran, the latter announced the suspension of trade through the Strait of Hormuz. About 20% of the world's oil and more than 30% of liquefied natural gas pass through this route.