LNG traffic in Hormuz picks up despite US-Iran war
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- More QatarEnergy-linked LNG vessels have resumed visible transits through the Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
- Data from Kpler and LSEG show the return of tankers carrying cargo from Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal, although some vessels may have traveled with AIS transponders switched off.
More liquefied natural gas vessels linked to QatarEnergy have resumed visible transit through the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks despite the ongoing US-Iran conflict, according to shipping data from Kpler and LSEG.
The return of LNG tankers follows a sharp drop in visible traffic through the strategic waterway in August, when Kpler recorded no visible transits by Qatar-linked LNG vessels or ships carrying cargo from Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas terminal.
Some vessels may have continued using the strait without appearing in tracking data by switching off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, a practice known as “dark transits.”
However, visible LNG tanker movements have begun to increase this month.
The latest vessel to reappear was the GasLog Skagen, which was tracked off Sri Lanka on Sunday carrying a cargo from Ras Laffan, according to Kpler and LSEG data.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy supplies. Before the conflict and the subsequent blockade, roughly one-fifth of global crude oil and LNG supplies passed through the waterway.
The renewed movement of Qatar-linked LNG vessels comes as shipping companies continue to navigate security risks and disruptions surrounding the strait.
