LNG Flows Revive Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Security Concerns

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers have resumed moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy trade. According to tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg and reported on September 19, 2026, at least two LNG carriers navigated the strait this week.

Meanwhile, ship-to-ship transfers of LNG cargoes outside the strait near Oman have increased in recent months. Satellite images reveal that three such transfers took place offshore Oman over the past month. These transfers are more complex and expensive than direct passage through the strait, but they allow LNG to reach customers despite ongoing security concerns.

The return of LNG flows to two-thirds of their pre-war level is attributed in part to dark transits, where tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz without publicly announcing their cargo. However, LNG exports from the Persian Gulf have been significantly curtailed over the past six months due to security risks.

Analysts warn that if winter turns out colder than usual, LNG prices could rise by about a third from current levels amid low European gas inventories and intense competition for spot supply between Europe and Asia. This would further exacerbate energy market tensions and strain global supplies of natural gas.