Malacca Strait, Singapore record busiest activities in over two decades

Singapore and Straits of Malacca has been the world’s busiest waterway after seeing record traffic volumes in 2025 in over two decades.

According to data from the Malaysian Marine Department compiled by the Nippon Maritime Centre, the number of transits exceeded 100,000 last year for the first time, hitting 102,525.

As one of the key maritime choke points, Straits of Malacca and others are under focus due to Iran’s shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.

Jump from 2004 to 2025

In 2004, 63,636 transits were only recorded by vessels over 300 gt, according to the figures derived from STRAITREP data and vessel reports from One Fathom Bank in the north of the Malacca Strait, Iyu Kecil in the south, and the Singapore Strait’s western entrance in the west.

Compared to 94,301 vessel transits in 2024, the number of boats over 300 gt increased by 8.72 per cent in 2025, as reported by SeatradeMaritime News.

In 2025, there would be 281 reports sent to Malaysia’s Klang VTS per day. 

The largest users of the Strait are tankers (60 per day, excluding laden VLCCs), dry bulk carriers (57 per day), and container ships (74 per day, excluding deep draught Ultra Large Container Vessels, or ULCV).

The littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore responded to international pressure by coordinating patrols and combating piracy. 

Additionally, it led to the establishment of organisations like the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Armed Robbery and Piracy Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

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Singapore’s stance after closure of Hormuz

Since the war with the US and Israel began on February 28, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, placing the security of important waterways at the top of the geopolitical agenda. 

In line with this, Singapore has stated unequivocally that it will not engage in negotiations with Iran on the payment of tolls for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

During the Singapore Maritime Week, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong affirmed the city-state’s stance, saying that “We cannot negotiate with Iran because the right of transit passage is a matter of right,” as reported by Press Trust India.

He also said that if Singapore were to negotiate and come to “some agreement”, there would be requirements that Singapore would have to meet in order to enjoy that safe passage.

“And it is not conditional. The right is protected under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and therefore, we cannot possibly enter into a negotiation,” said Gan.

“I hope I made that clear because we are very concerned about the safety and also the cargo that we do want to try to get them out and continue to ensure safe passage through the Straits of Hormuz, but it is important for us to continue to uphold the principle that it is a matter of right,” he added.

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