Russia halts commercial shipping through the Kerch Strait

Day

66 (as of 2026-09-13 (13 September 2026))

Started

2026-07-10 (10 July 2026)

Severity

5 Critical

Chokepoints

Kerch Strait

Ports

Kerch

Lanes

None

• Severity basis: IMF PortWatch transits at the Kerch Strait fell from about 11 a day in June 2026 to a few a day in the days after 2026-07-10 and to under 1 a day on average from 2026-07-15 to 2026-09-13, a reduction above 50% for over 30 days.

Expected before the event

10.9 transits per day

Last 7 days

0.0

Last 28 days

0.1 (-99%)

Average since the start

0.6

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Expected before the event

1.8 transits per day

Last 7 days

0.0

Last 28 days

0.0 (-100%)

Average since the start

0.1

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Expected before the event

1.5 transits per day

Last 7 days

0.0

Last 28 days

0.0 (-100%)

Average since the start

0.2

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

1. 2026-09-13The latest IMF PortWatch day in this archive shows no transits through the strait.
2. 2026-07-15IMF PortWatch records 1 transit through the strait, against about 11 a day in June, and no more than 3 a day on any day from 2026-07-15 to 2026-09-13.
3. 2026-07-10Commercial navigation through the Don-Azov Channel is suspended as well, and European wheat futures rise about 4%.
4. 2026-07-10Russian border guards tell shipping companies at 18:10 local time that passage requests through the Kerch Strait will not be accepted, with no reopening date, after Ukrainian drone strikes on vessels in the Sea of Azov.

Full record with sources, cause and measured effect. All ongoing disruptions.