Qatar accelerates the recall of idle LNG carriers to prepare for the resumption of around one-fifth of global supply

Golden Ten Data reported on June 22 that as Qatar prepares to resume around one-fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, the country is seeking to have more empty LNG carriers return home. According to vessel tracking data, three LNG carriers owned by the Qatari state-owned shipping company are currently in the Gulf of Oman, approaching the eastern entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. Five other Qatar-related carriers are near the eastern waters off Oman, and several more vessels are heading to the region. The vessel data also shows that in the past week, at least three other Qatar-related empty tankers have passed through the strait. Previously, due to security concerns, Qatar had never dispatched any empty LNG carriers into the Persian Gulf. Data shows that during the week of June 19, Qatar successfully exported some cargo, loading just over 300,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas, marking the highest level since early March. However, this figure is still only about one-fifth of the level before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February.