Qatar has loaded its first liquefied natural gas cargo since halting production due to Middle East conflict, marking a potential resumption of exports after declaring force majeure. The Lebrethah tanker departed from the Ras Laffan LNG export complex on Friday, with its draft level indicating a full cargo aboard, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.

The vessel is signaling Bangladesh as its destination, with an estimated arrival on March 14. However, the journey through the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain as the crucial shipping route remains effectively closed due to ongoing hostilities. The tanker may need to serve as floating storage until the passage reopens, highlighting the fragility of global LNG supply chains.

Qatar shut the world's largest LNG export facility following an Iranian drone assault earlier this week. Before that, the Strait of Hormuz had already been severely disrupted, normally accounting for about a fifth of global LNG supplies. While some cargoes were loaded since the weekend, those vessels departed on March 2, before the official force majeure announcement. A QatarEnergy spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the loading or destination.