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Economy May 10, 2026 01:56 AM

Qatar Sends First LNG Cargo Through Strait of Hormuz Since Conflict Began

Al Kharaitiyat exits waterway to Gulf of Oman on a voyage bound for Pakistan, offering the first sign of resumed flows from the Persian Gulf

By Derek Hwang

A Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker, the Al Kharaitiyat, has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and is now in the Gulf of Oman. Loaded at Ras Laffan earlier this month and listed as bound for Pakistan, the transit is the first from Qatar through the waterway since the outbreak of the Iran war. The voyage followed a northern route close to the Iranian coast that Tehran currently permits. While the single passage is notable, it remains far below prewar export volumes and leaves open questions about whether the channel is reopening reliably.

Qatar Sends First LNG Cargo Through Strait of Hormuz Since Conflict Began

Key Points

  • This is the first Qatari LNG transit through the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran war began; the tanker Al Kharaitiyat is now in the Gulf of Oman and listed as bound for Pakistan.
  • The vessel followed a northern route close to the Iranian coast that Tehran currently permits; it had been loaded at Ras Laffan earlier this month.
  • Qatar produced nearly one-fifth of the worlds LNG last year, so the countrys export limitations have materially contributed to tighter global supplies and higher prices, particularly affecting Asian markets and energy traders.

A liquefied natural gas tanker registered to Qatar has completed a transit of the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first occasion Qatari cargo has used the route since the outbreak of the Iran war. Ship-tracking information compiled by Bloomberg shows the vessel, named Al Kharaitiyat, has cleared the waterway and is now located in the Gulf of Oman.

The tanker was loaded at Qatar's Ras Laffan export terminal earlier this month and is listed as heading to Pakistan. According to the tracking data, the Al Kharaitiyat navigated a northern corridor that runs close to the Iranian coastline - a passage that Tehran has currently authorised.

Industry observers view the voyage as the first tentative indication that energy shipments might be able to move again from the Persian Gulf, a region where flows have been largely halted since late February. Before the conflict began, maritime activity in the area typically involved roughly three LNG shipments each day. By comparison, the single transit of the Al Kharaitiyat represents only a small portion of those prewar volumes.

Qatar has made earlier attempts to send cargoes through the strait, but those efforts ended when tankers turned back over security concerns. The successful passage of the Al Kharaitiyat follows those failed attempts, and it comes amid a backdrop where the waterway has been effectively constrained by both U.S. and Iranian forces. That restriction has markedly reduced global LNG availability, pushed prices higher, and contributed to energy shortages across Asian markets.

Qatar is a major global supplier, having produced nearly one-fifth of the worlds liquefied natural gas supply in the last year. The countrys restricted ability to move product has been a key factor tightening the market. Separately, at least two tankers from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. have reportedly made recent transits of the strait, but Qatar's export halt has been a prominent driver of recent supply stress.

The Al Kharaitiyat is listed as owned by Nakilat, the Qatari shipping company. Nakilat and QatarEnergy did not provide comments in response to requests about the vessel's movement.

Market participants and regional energy officials are watching closely to determine whether the Al Kharaitiyat's passage represents the start of a sustained reopening of the route or is an isolated incident. For the time being, the successful exit offers a rare easing for energy-hungry markets in Asia that have been coping with the consequences of the maritime standoff.

Key context and implications

  • Transit shows first Qatari LNG export through Strait of Hormuz since start of the Iran war, but remains limited compared with pre-conflict activity.
  • Route hugged the Iranian coast on a northern corridor currently approved by Tehran; the ship is en route to Pakistan after loading at Ras Laffan earlier this month.
  • Qatar supplies nearly one-fifth of global LNG, so its export restrictions have been a primary factor in tightening markets and elevating prices.

Risks

  • Uncertainty whether the Al Kharaitiyat transit signals a sustained reopening of the Strait of Hormuz - if the passage proves isolated, supply pressures and price volatility could persist, impacting energy markets and Asian importers.
  • The effective blockade by U.S. and Iranian forces has constrained flows; any continuation of maritime interdiction risks further reductions in available LNG cargoes and extended shortages in affected regions.
  • Qatar's prior inability to move product was a primary driver of recent market tightness - if operational or security constraints re-emerge, sectors dependent on LNG supplies, including power generation and industrial users in Asia, may face renewed strain.

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