<article><p class="lead">Shell has swapped two of its Middle East LNG deliveries amid the banning of LNG carriers originating from Qatar at Dubai's 5mn t/yr Jebel Ali terminal. </p><p>Shell's 173,400m³ <i>Maran Gas Amphipolis</i> was due to deliver US LNG to Kuwait's 5.7mn t/yr Al-Ahmadi port this week, but was diverted to Dubai on 6 June after the port of Jebel Ali <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/1473677">banned the arrival of vessels originating from Qatar</a> amid a political dispute between Qatar and Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) members Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE as well as north African neighbour Egypt. </p><p>The delivery on the <i>Maran Gas Amphipolis</i>, which loaded at the 25mn t/yr Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana on 9 May and so is not subject to the port ban, was probably swapped with a Qatari delivery. Shell's 145,700m³ <i>Maran Gas Asclepius</i> has since loaded at Qatar's 77mn t/yr Ras Laffan facility and delivered to Kuwait today. </p><p>This appears to be the first diversion of an LNG delivery after regional neighbours severed diplomatic ties with Doha <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/1473227">on 5 June</a>.</p><p>"This dispute is a timely reminder of the value of the diversity and flexibility of supply that destination–free US exports bring to individual buyers — and the LNG trade in general," US LNG producer Cheniere Energy said this week. </p><p>"As the only current supplier of US LNG, Cheniere will continue to provide reliable cargoes of US LNG to customers and countries around the world," the firm said.</p></article>
