Qatar suspends LNG shipments through the Red Sea

Qatar has suspended the shipment of LNG tankers through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait amid rising risks after US missile strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. This was reported by Bloomberg.

At least five LNG vessels operated by Qatar, which were heading to the passage in the southern part of the Red Sea, were stopped on Friday. Three tankers bound for Europe stopped off the coast of Oman, and two more empty tankers bound for Qatar stopped on the other side of the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

According to Bloomberg, a long pause in supplies from the second largest LNG supplier creates risks for the European market during the heating season.

Analysts expect that the suspension of supplies will not lead to a shortage in the short term. Europe is sufficiently supplied with gas, and industrial demand is still low.

So far, the Houthis have not attacked any LNG tankers, but Qatar's reluctance to transit the Red Sea emphasizes the growing risks after the US strikes.