Philippines / Malaysia
Balabac Strait — Ship Transits Today
Daily vessel transits through the Balabac Strait, by ship type, compared with the same week last year. Updated daily.
Daily transits, last 90 days
By vessel type
Ships/day, 7-day average| Type | Ships/day |
|---|---|
| Container ships | 1.1 |
| Tankers | 4.6 |
| Dry bulk | 5.1 |
| General cargo | 1.4 |
| Ro-ro | 0.1 |
Cargo-carrying capacity transiting (deadweight) is -14% against the same week last year.
Source: IMF PortWatch daily chokepoint transits, built from satellite AIS by the IMF and the University of Oxford.
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Questions
How many ships pass through the Balabac Strait per day?
In the 7 days to 25 October 2026, an average of 12.4 vessels a day transited the Balabac Strait, compared with 9.9 a day in the same week last year (+26%).
Is the Balabac Strait open?
Yes — ships were transiting the Balabac Strait in the latest data (25 October 2026). Traffic is currently above normal compared with last year.
Where does this data come from?
IMF PortWatch, which counts vessel crossings from satellite AIS. Shyppy refreshes it daily and compares the 7-day average with the same week a year earlier.
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