Shell expects global liquefied natural gas trade to be broadly flat in 2026 after more than a decade of growth, according to Bloomberg, as conflict-linked disruption around the Strait of Hormuz chokes supply. The warning matters because it shifts the market focus from a short price shock to a more persistent constraint on available cargoes and loading programs.
For TankerMap, the significance is directly operational. If LNG supply growth stalls because Gulf-linked flows remain constrained, shipowners, charterers and terminals may face a longer period of uneven vessel rotations, tighter cargo allocation and more fragile scheduling across Asia-bound and Europe-bound routes. TankerMap data context: Hormuz remains a critical corridor for LNG exports, so any prolonged squeeze there can quickly reshape fleet deployment, port activity and confidence in regional gas shipping flows.