LNG traffic through the Strait of Hormuz reached its highest level in October since the Iran war began — but Qatar's exports remain far below February
Thirty-one laden LNG tankers exited the Strait of Hormuz in October, the highest monthly tally since the US–Iran conflict disrupted shipping in February, vessel-tracking data from S&P Global Energy showed — up from 23 exits in September. Of the October tankers, 23 loaded at Ras Laffan in Qatar and eight at Das Island in the United Arab Emirates. Kpler data put total October LNG loadings at 42 cargoes, up from 27 in September, with Ras Laffan loadings reaching 35 cargoes and more than 2.7 million tonnes — still well under the nearly 6.2 million tonnes Qatar exported in February.
Key points
- 31 laden LNG tankers exited Hormuz in October — the most since February, up from 23 in September (S&P Global Energy).
- Kpler counted 42 cargoes loaded in October, up from 27 in September; Ras Laffan alone loaded 35 cargoes, over 2.7 million tonnes.
- The recovery is partial: Qatar exported nearly 6.2 million tonnes in February, and an S&P analyst puts Qatar at over 30% of pre-war transits.
What happened
The strait carries a large share of the world's traded LNG, almost all of it loaded at Qatar's Ras Laffan and the UAE's Das Island. Traffic collapsed when the US–Iran conflict disrupted shipping in February and has been recovering in stages since.
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- The October exit and loading tallies from the two tracking firms, and that both are the highest of the war period.
What we don't know yet
- Whether the recovery holds in November — no November data exists yet.
- How much of the February shortfall buyers have replaced from other suppliers.
Claim by claim
Show all claims (4)
Why this label: The exit tally and its split by loading port are S&P Global Energy's data as reported by Reuters; The Hindu's report of the same data is in agreement.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The loading counts and tonnages are Kpler's data as reported by Reuters. Loadings and strait exits are different measures and are not added together here.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: Yep's assessment is his own, quoted by Reuters, and is carried as an analyst's assessment of the data.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The transfers, the named vessels and the Das Island loadings are Kpler's data as reported by Reuters.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why it matters
Hormuz is the chokepoint for Qatari gas, the world's swing LNG supply. October's numbers show trade finding ways through — including ship-to-ship transfers outside the strait — but at barely a third of Qatar's pre-war flow heading into the northern winter, when gas demand peaks.
Background
The US–Iran conflict disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz; Qatar exports nearly 6.2 million tonnes of LNG that month.
23 laden LNG tankers exit the strait (S&P Global Energy); Kpler counts 27 cargoes loaded.
Exits rise to 31 and loadings to 42 cargoes — the highest monthly figures since the war began.
Update history
No silent edits. Every change is written here, with its time.
- Latest
Published — the October tallies are the tracking firms' data as reported by Reuters.