For the first time since the war! Qatari LNG empty ships return to the Persian Gulf, supply recovery accelerates

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Qatar is accelerating the resumption of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.

With the implementation of the US-Iran interim peace agreement and the reopening process of the Strait of Hormuz underway, a Qatari empty LNG tanker has, for the first time in months, returned to the Persian Gulf, marking a substantive stage in the export resumption of this key global LNG supplier.

According to Bloomberg-compiled vessel tracking data, the Qatari state-owned shipping company’s tanker “Al Hamla” appeared at Qatar’s Ras Laffan export terminal on Thursday. This is the first empty Qatari LNG tanker to return to the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of the Iran war at the end of February this year. Meanwhile, earlier this week, several other empty vessels linked to Qatar also began heading towards the Middle East.

Qatar plans to restore most of its export capacity within two months after the Strait of Hormuz reopens, and allocating enough vessels to carry the cargo is a key premise for achieving this goal. The arrival of the “Al Hamla” signals that this process is accelerating and will have a direct impact on global LNG market supply expectations.

Peace Agreement Implemented, Strait of Hormuz Reopening Underway

The signing of the US-Iran interim peace agreement has provided a political foundation for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with the agreement explicitly requiring the prompt reopening of this key waterway.

The recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz had impacted about one-fifth of the world’s LNG supplies, with only a small amount getting through—either by ships turning off transponders and hiding their positions as “dark ships,” or by passing under special approval from Tehran.

Saudi supertankers also began crossing the Strait of Hormuz immediately after the agreement was signed, indicating that major oil-producing countries are seizing this window of easing tensions to restore shipments.

Empty Tankers Return, Export Resumption Enters Substantial Phase

About a week ago, the “Al Hamla” stopped transmitting signals near the western waters of India and then appeared at the Ras Laffan export terminal.

This is the first empty Qatari LNG tanker to return to the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of conflict, carrying important symbolic meaning—its return while empty signals that it is preparing to load goods and carry out export missions.

The fundamental reason for Qatar’s earlier export disruptions was its inability to safely return empty ships to the loading port.

Now, with several empty vessels returning to the Middle East this week, the logistical bottleneck reconstructing Qatar’s export capacity is starting to clear.

Two-Month Recovery Target, Supply Expectations Reshape Market

According to previous Bloomberg reports, Qatar’s goal is to restore most of its export capabilities within two months after the Strait of Hormuz reopens.

As a critical global LNG supplier, the resumption of Qatari exports will directly impact the global natural gas market’s supply and demand dynamics.

During the Strait of Hormuz blockade, around one-fifth of global LNG supplies were affected, significantly tightening market supply. As empty vessels return and export terminals resume operations, expectations for a recovery in Qatari supply are rapidly rising, which will have a substantial impact on global LNG spot prices and long-term contract negotiations.

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