First Japanese LNG Tanker Passes Strait of Hormuz Since Mideast Conflict

(MENAFN) A Japanese liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker has passed through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, providing some relief to the energy-dependent nation.

A spokesperson for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, co-owner of the Panama-flagged Sohar LNG, said on Friday that the crew is safe, without specifying when the transit occurred or whether any negotiations were involved.

Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the tanker appeared empty while attempting to exit the strait. The Sohar LNG had been circulating in the Persian Gulf for roughly a month.

Japan, which relies on the Gulf for around 90% of its energy, was among the first countries to release oil from its strategic reserves. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global oil and gas—has sharply declined due to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

Approximately 20 million barrels of oil pass through the strait daily, and disruptions have pushed oil prices higher while increasing shipping and insurance costs, fueling global economic concerns. In March, a total of 220 vessels navigated the Strait of Hormuz, with liquid tankers representing more than half of all crossings, according to data from MarineTraffic and Kpler released on Friday.

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