LNG Tanker Mihzem U-Turns at Hormuz as Blockade Chokes 20% of Global LNG Flows
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 11
LNG Tanker Mihzem U-Turns at Hormuz as Blockade Chokes 20% of Global LNG Flows
14 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 11
Mihzem, a Singapore-flagged LNG tanker loaded at Qatar’s Ras Laffan a week ago, turned back Monday at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz instead of exiting toward Pakistan.
The reversal underscores how the chokepoint has remained blocked for more than two months, leaving analysts focused on whether any laden Qatari LNG carrier can still pass through.
Al Kharaitiyat managed that crossing over the weekend and has already reached Pakistan, making it only the second Qatari gas vessel to attempt the route since the conflict began.
Before the war, Hormuz carried about 20% of global LNG flows; since then, only a handful of LNG ships have crossed, including a late-April Adnoc cargo of more than 130,000 cubic meters bound for Tianjin.
What backdoor deals allow some gas tankers to safely navigate the Hormuz warzone?
With 20,000 sailors trapped, what is the hidden human cost of the Hormuz standoff?
Is the Hormuz blockade a prelude to a global food supply collapse?
LNG and Oil Markets in Crisis: Middle East Conflict Shuts Down Hormuz, Sparks Global Supply Chain and Food Emergency
Overview
Escalating hostilities in the Middle East, including an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gasfield and an Iranian attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan complex, have triggered severe turmoil in global energy markets. These events led to Qatar’s temporary halt in LNG output and a force majeure declaration, causing sharp drops in LNG and oil supplies. As a result, gas prices have surged, and buyers in Asia and Europe are urgently seeking alternative sources. The disruptions threaten global energy security, impact regional populations and the environment, and force countries to reconsider their energy strategies and supply chain resilience.