Data: Third Qatari LNG tanker crosses the Strait of Hormuz to China

Ship tracking data on Friday showed a third Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker crossing the Strait of Hormuz bound for China, as a Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran to help reach an agreement to end the war with Iran.

As shipping traffic through the strait continues to fluctuate, the passage of a third Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker comes nearly two weeks after the first such shipment passed through the strait under an agreement between Iran and Pakistan.

Shipping data from the London Stock Exchange Group indicates that the vessel (Al-Sahla), with a capacity of 211,842 cubic meters, departed Ras Laffan and is expected to arrive at the Tianjin LNG terminal in China on June 14.

Two informed sources stated that the shipments of the two previous Qatari liquefied natural gas tankers that crossed the Strait of Hormuz after the outbreak of war at the end of February were sold by Qatar to Pakistan under an agreement between the two governments.

The sources said Iran agreed to the shipment to help build trust between Qatar and Pakistan, which is mediating the peace talks.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters today that a Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran today in coordination with the United States to try to resolve outstanding issues.

Qatar is the world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with most of its shipments going to buyers in Asia.
The Iranian attacks destroyed 17 percent, or 12.8 million tons per year, of Qatar’s LNG export capacity.