Qatar's LNG shipments are increasingly being transported through maritime routes from Iran to Pakistan. These transfers occur under conditions where ship tracking systems are turned off, thus security risks in the region remain.
Details of Qatar's LNG Shipments
On September 21, a report was published indicating that Iran has granted permission for a Qatari LNG shipment to pass through its waters to Pakistan via the Strait of Hormuz. This shipment is part of a process in which Qatar is trying to increase its liquefied natural gas exports. Previously, another LNG shipment from Qatar to Pakistan had similarly passed through in the same month.
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Security Challenges and Export Risks
By mid-October, information received from maritime tracking accounts indicates that the third Qatari LNG shipment has entered the Strait of Hormuz and is using the Iranian corridor to pass towards Pakistan. However, Bloomberg has recently reported that while Qatar is able to increase its shipments through ship-to-ship transfers, security risks could limit the capacity for increased exports.
If the risks of passing through the Strait of Hormuz continue until early 2029, global liquefied natural gas exports may remain below pre-war levels with Iran until late 2027 or even late 2028. The timing for the recovery of these exports depends heavily on the swift resumption of Qatari ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Thus, it is clear that the security situation in the region and existing challenges could significantly impact the global LNG market.
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