Second Qatari LNG tanker crosses Hormuz as Pakistan supply corridor operates on case-by-case basis

A second liquefied natural gas cargo from Qatar has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and is now heading toward Port Qasim, reflecting continued LNG movements under a tightly managed, case-by-case shipping arrangement amid regional conflict risks.

The tanker Mihzem, with a capacity of 174,000 cubic metres, left Ras Laffan on Monday and crossed the strait on Tuesday before proceeding toward Pakistan, according to LSEG shipping data.

The passage marks the second successful Hormuz transit for a Qatari LNG vessel since the onset of the Iran-related conflict period, underscoring a cautious but functioning supply channel through the critical waterway.

It follows the earlier transit of the LNG carrier Al Kharaitiyat, which began its Hormuz crossing via an Iranian-approved northern route and completed passage over the weekend before anchoring near Port Qasim.

That cargo, like the latest shipment, is part of LNG supplies from Qatar to Pakistan under a government-to-government framework, according to sources familiar with the arrangement.

The shipments are being routed under special coordination involving Iran, which reportedly approved the passage to facilitate controlled transit and confidence-building among Qatar and Pakistan.

The Al Kharaitiyat movement was also described as part of a coordinated mechanism designed to ensure safe passage through the strait during heightened geopolitical tensions.

Sources said at least two additional LNG tankers from Qatar are expected to follow similar routes toward Pakistan in the coming days.

Separately, Pakistan has been in discussions with Iran regarding limited and managed LNG tanker transits through the strait, as Islamabad seeks to ease pressure from ongoing gas shortages.

Iran is reported to have agreed to assist with safe passage arrangements, allowing selected LNG cargoes destined for Pakistan—under its existing supply framework with Qatar, the country’s main LNG supplier—to transit the strategic waterway.