LNG

Russia’s Novatek has begun its 2026 summer Arctic LNG shipping season with simultaneous eastbound cargoes from its Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2 projects via the Northern Sea Route – in the face of Western sanctions and ongoing technical constraints at Arctic LNG 2.

The Al Kharaitiyat LNG carrier, loaded at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal in early May, has left the Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to Pakistan, according to ship tracking data. Analysts reckon more cargoes may be able to get out.

Chinese-linked ships have been using their identity to transit the Strait of Hormuz on March 1-8, Lloyd’s List Intelligence data shows. None of the six vessels were oil or LNG tankers.