By Stephen Stapczynski and Ruth Liao
October 7, 2026 – Qatar has gathered a group of empty liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers in the Persian Gulf. This suggests that the country, one of the largest exporters of LNG, may be getting ready to increase shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to an analysis of satellite images and ship-tracking data, at least 12 LNG carriers owned or chartered by QatarEnergy are currently waiting near the country's waters. These vessels can collectively carry about 1.1 million tons of LNG, which is roughly 2% of the total capacity of all LNG tankers worldwide.
However, there is no assurance that these vessels will pass through Hormuz once they are loaded, especially considering the rise in Iranian attacks on ships. Recently, a Greek-owned LNG carrier was reportedly struck by an unidentified object while near the waterway, according to the Athens News Agency, citing Greece’s shipping ministry.
QatarEnergy has not yet responded to requests for comments on the situation.
Nonetheless, more shipments could help lower global gas prices, which soared to their highest since late 2022 in Asia and Europe last month. LNG traffic through the Strait of Hormuz increased in September, reaching the highest levels since the start of the war, but remains about 75% lower than figures from February, before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran.
This recent increase in flows has surprised some buyers. For example, India has had to reduce some spot purchases to accommodate the return of Qatari cargoes.
The market is now keeping an eye on whether the initial rise in LNG shipments will persist. Oil shipments have notably increased over the past few months. However, much of this crude has been loaded onto different ships in the Gulf of Oman through a method known as shuttling, which is more complex for super-chilled LNG.