Qatar has temporarily stopped its liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers from traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime route, due to heightened risks following recent US-led airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
According to Bloomberg’s ship-tracking data, since Friday, at least five Qatari LNG vessels destined for this passage at the Red Sea’s southern tip have ceased movement.
Three of these tankers are currently off Oman’s coast, one in the Red Sea, and another near the Suez Canal in the Mediterranean Sea.
Following the airstrikes on the Iran-supported Houthi group, the Combined Military Forces, which includes the US and UK navies, have warned merchant ships to steer clear of the southern Red Sea’s danger zone. Consequently, at least three major oil tanker companies have chosen to avoid this area.
Although there have been no attacks on gas-carrying vessels by the Houthis since their maritime disturbances began in mid-November, Qatar’s hesitation to pass through the strait underscores the escalated risks post the US-led bombing.
Qatar, a leading global LNG exporter and a key supplier to Europe, had been using the Red Sea route to transport fuel to Europe. This route is preferred over the lengthier alternative around Africa’s southern tip. Last year, Qatar provided about 13% of Western Europe’s LNG.
The heightened risks could delay LNG shipments to Europe, but immediate shortages are unlikely. Europe has substantial stock, industrial demand is low, and the winter has been comparatively mild. European gas prices are currently at their lowest since August.
