Shipping Stress Index — September 2026: 35.2

The Shipping Stress Index recorded an average level of 35.2 in September 2026, starting at its lowest point of 27 on September 1. Tensions rose early in the month following fresh U.S. military strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent Iranian claims of attacks on ten ships in the area. Stress spiked to a peak of 46 on September 20 after Russia killed eight people in Ukraine and attacked two vessels in the Black Sea. There were no calm events reported during the month to lower the tension. The month ended after reaching its highest stress level on September 20, driven by the expanding conflicts.

Peak 46 on 2026-09-20 · low 27 on 2026-09-01 · live month, refreshes daily · ← August · Shipping Stress Index timeline · · World Tension, same month

• Russia kills eight people in Ukraine, attacks two vessels in Black Sea Al Jazeera · 2026-09-19
• Iran says it destroyed U.S. advanced drone over Hormuz as Middle East conflict intensifies CNBC · 2026-09-14
• Iran claims to have attacked 10 ships near strait of Hormuz after US strikes The Guardian · 2026-09-09
• US military claims Strait of Hormuz remains open amid ongoing blockade Al Jazeera · 2026-09-17
• New attacks in Hormuz and Saudi test nerves as war's spread worsens oil disruption Reuters · 2026-09-13
• Oil prices surge as US-Iran strikes intensify in Strait of Hormuz aljazeera.com · 2026-09-07
• U.S. military launches fresh strikes in the Strait of Hormuz Axios · 2026-09-01
• Why US-Iran war over Hormuz is threatening the Gulf’s waters aljazeera.com · 2026-09-09