Qatari, UAE LNG cargoes transferred via ship-to-ship outside Strait of Hormuz

• Iran has largely shut the Strait of Hormuz during the six-month conflict, causing several commercial vessels to face attacks and forcing LNG carriers to use unconventional ship-to-ship transfers
• Asian spot LNG prices reached a five-month high of $23.20 per million British thermal units, more than double pre-conflict levels, due to reduced regional LNG exports
• Three tankers completed STS transfers off Oman and UAE coasts: GasLog Shanghai to GasLog Savannah, Al Rekayyat to Tembek (delivered to India), and Mraweh to LNG Enugu (en route to Japan)

Summary: Qatari, UAE LNG Cargoes Transferred via Ship-to-Ship Outside Strait of Hormuz

Key Developments:

Three liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from Qatar and the UAE were transferred via unusual ship-to-ship (STS) operations outside the Strait of Hormuz in August 2026, destined for India and Japan. This follows significant disruptions caused by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran that began February 28.

Critical Details:

• Vessels Involved:
• GasLog Shanghai and GasLog Savannah (Greek-controlled) conducted STS transfer off Oman coast in late August
• QatarEnergy-controlled Al Rekayyat transferred cargo to Tembek for delivery to India's Dahej terminal on August 31
• ADNOC-controlled Mraweh transferred to LNG Enugu, currently en route to Futtsu, Japan

Market Impact:

• Iran has largely shut down the Strait of Hormuz during the six-month conflict
• Asian spot LNG prices surged to $23.20 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), representing more than double pre-conflict levels
• Regional LNG exports have fallen significantly since conflict onset
• STS transfers for LNG are highly unusual compared to crude oil operations

Context:

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, has experienced multiple vessel attacks amid heightened tensions. The energy supply disruptions are driving inflation concerns globally. Major companies mentioned include QatarEnergy, GasLog, ADNOC, BW Group, and Marubeni. None provided comments when contacted by Reuters.

The developments underscore severe ongoing disruptions to Middle East energy flows and their ripple effects on global LNG markets.