Qatari LNG cargo transits Red Sea to Europe in rare Suez run amid Houthi threat

A Qatari LNG carrier is heading north through the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal, bound for Poland, in a rare use of the shortest route to Europe despite Houthi attacks on shipping in the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. The shipment, loaded in August, is part of QatarEnergy's term contract with Orlen. This marks a potential shift in LNG routing patterns, as most Qatari cargoes have avoided the Red Sea since late 2023; the move suggests either improved security conditions or a calculated risk by the shipper.