Story perspectives

Qatar's Al Kharaitiyat First LNG Carrier Through Hormuz, Force-Majeure Extended

5/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Al Kharaitiyat became first Qatari LNG carrier to exit Strait of Hormuz, sailing from Ras Laffan to Port Qasim on 11 May 2026.
Al Kharaitiyat loaded 209,714 m³ of LNG at Ras Laffan before the transit.
LNG carrier transits through the Strait have fallen 60% since the conflict, while Pakistan’s LNGC discharges dropped 48% after February 2026.
QatarEnergy extended its force-majeure on Qatari cargoes through June 2026, leaving shipments dependent on government-to-government negotiations.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 Arab oil embargo, triggered in October 1973, forced Western nations to confront the strategic vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz. OPEC members, led by Saudi Arabia and Iran, cut production by 5 million barrels per day, raising global oil prices by roughly 300 %. Today, QatarEnergy’s Al Kharaitiyat LNG carrier repeats that vulnerability, navigating the strait with 209,714 m³ cargo, and negotiating with Pakistan’s Port Qasim authorities to secure discharge. The 1973 crisis taught that geopolitical shocks can slash transit volumes, a lesson echoed by today’s 60 % decline in LNG passages and reshaped energy diplomacy.

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Story summary

Al Kharaitiyat became first Qatari LNG carrier to exit Strait of Hormuz, sailing from Ras Laffan to Port Qasim on 11 May 2026.
Al Kharaitiyat loaded 209,714 m³ of LNG at Ras Laffan before the transit.
LNG carrier transits through the Strait have fallen 60% since the conflict, while Pakistan’s LNGC discharges dropped 48% after February 2026.
QatarEnergy extended its force-majeure on Qatari cargoes through June 2026, leaving shipments dependent on government-to-government negotiations.

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