Shipping companies from Greece, the UAE and China are most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Bloomberg and marine traffic organisations.

Around 670 commodity vessels sent signals from west of the Strait of Hormuz over the last day, with companies from the nearby United Arab Emirates accounting for 120 -- around 18 per cent of the total.

The war erupted on 28 February when the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran, sparking retaliatory strikes across the region -- with Tehran's forces targeting the crucial waterway.

The figures may understate the true totals as some vessels may have turned off their transponders.