India, March 3 -- Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have slowed to a near standstill, disrupting one of the world's most critical energy corridors and jolting global markets.

Maritime tracking data indicates that almost 86 percent of normal east-west crude traffic has stalled, creating a bottleneck that threatens to destabilise fuel supplies across Asia and Europe.

According to shipping analytics firms Windward and Kpler, the waterway remains technically open, yet vessel movement has collapsed.

The congestion has intensified on both sides of the strait.

A further 26 tankers drift within the Gulf without declared destinations, while many more idle in the Gulf of Oman awaiting clarity.

Energy markets responded immediately. Bre...