A Qatari tanker carrying liquefied natural gas during a previous transit of the Suez Canal towards Europe (Reuters)

Ship tracking data from L. S. Yes. On Tuesday, four tankers used for Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments resumed their course after a pause for several days amid tensions in the Red Sea due to threats by the Yemeni Houthi group against Israeli ships or carrying Israeli goods in support of the Gaza Strip, which has been under continuous aggression for more than 4 days.

Tensions in the Red Sea have disrupted trade on the main east-west route, which accounts for about 12 percent of global shipping traffic.

The LNG tanker "Al-Rakiyat" resumed sailing through the Red Sea and is heading to Qatar, after stopping since January 13 along its route on the Red Sea, the data showed.

The Ghariya, Huwaila and Numan ships, loaded with Qatari liquefied natural gas, were also moving, but changed course to head south although they still point to the Suez Canal as their destinations, the data said.

Qatar's LNG shipments passing through the Suez Canal usually head to Europe. The three tankers had stopped off the coast of Oman since January 14.

The data showed that Numan's estimated arrival date has been updated to January 19 instead of a previous delay of two weeks so that the arrival is on February 4.

Shell, owner of Stasco Shipping and Leasing and director of Numan, declined to comment.

LNG ships are among many that have had to take the longer route around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope instead.

Gas delay

Analysts estimate that the Cape of Good Hope route could add about 9 days to the 18-day journey from Qatar to Europe. A longer route would delay delivery, but Europe's gas storage levels are good.

Standard & Poor's estimates Qatar's LNG shipments through the Suez Canal at 14.8 million metric tons per year, U.S. cargoes at 8.8 million metric tons and Russian cargoes at 3.7 million metric tons.

European benchmark gas prices fell on Monday as milder weather forecasts and well-stocked storage helped offset shipping concerns.

A senior source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday that Qatar Energy, the world's second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, had stopped sending tankers across the Red Sea despite continued production.

In 2023, Qatar exported more than 75 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to the data, including 14 million tonnes to Europe and 56.4 million tonnes to Asia.

Qatar is Europe's largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) after the United States, accounting for about 13 percent of Western European consumption last year.

On Friday, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko), which accounts for about 70 percent of all oil, gas and chemical tankers traded internationally, called on its members to stay away from the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Source : Al Jazeera + Agencies