LNG shipping stocks: First tankers pass through Hormuz in International Shipping News 12/05/2026 The UP World LNG Shipping Index gained 0.37 points (0.17%) last week, closing at 217.82 points, while the S&P 500 gained 2.33% — its sixth consecutive weekly gain. The headline UPI number is again misleading: the median change was -1.04%, gainers outnumbered decliners just 5:14, and the weighted index fell 1.67%. The index remains in a support zone defined by the March peak and the low of the subsequent correction, where it has been hovering for three weeks — a sign of resilience rather than weakness. The first growth phase of 2026 is over; the UPI is in a wait-and-see zone, with geopolitics as the dominant driver. The key development of the week was the partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz: Bloomberg reported that ADNOC tankers turned off their tracking systems and successfully passed through, and on Sunday, reports emerged that Qatari tankers had also made the passage and were heading to deliver LNG to customers. If sustained, the remaining structural problem is the damage to Qatari terminals, whose repair will take years, but the remaining capacity would help ease supply tensions. Spot tanker rates stood at $96,500/day for the Atlantic and $67,000/day for the Pacific, according to Spark Commodities. Awilco LNG led the decliners with a 11.5% decline, following a CEO change announced on Friday linked to its pivot into gas trading. BP, Shell, and Chevron each fell 4–7% on geopolitical developments. On the positive side, COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation, Tsakos Energy Navigation (+3.3%), and Nakilat (+3.04%) led the gainers. UPI & SPX The UP World LNG Shipping Index, which tracks 20 listed LNG shipping companies, gained 0.37 points (0.17%), closing at 217.82 points, while the S&P 500 index gained 2.33%. The chart below illustrates the performance of both indices with weekly data. Week 19-2026: Chart of the UP World LNG Shipping Index with S&P 500 (Source: UP-Indices) Broader View At first glance, the UPI showed a positive shift, but upon closer inspection, this is more of a further challenge to the prospect of growth. This is confirmed by the median change of -1.04%, the ratio of rising to falling companies (5:14), and the 1.67% decline in the weighted UPI (wUPI). The UPI chart itself offers another perspective: With its decline, the UPI has entered a support zone defined by the March peak and the low of the subsequent correction, where it has been hovering for the third week in a row. This indicates a certain degree of strength, as the decline has not continued and the index is moving sideways. The conclusion, therefore, is that the first growth phase of this year is over and the UPI is in a wait-and-see zone. Geopolitics now has the most significant impact on the UPI, with quarterly results coming in second. We anticipate that, paradoxically, the damage caused by the war will have a positive impact on UPI companies during the second quarter, which is statistically the weakest. During the week, Bloomberg reported that ADNOC tankers had turned off their tracking systems and attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a move they succeeded in. On Sunday, reports emerged that Qatari tankers had also passed through the Strait of Hormuz and were heading to deliver LNG to their customers. This is good news in itself, because if this continues, the “only” significant problem remaining is the damage to Qatari terminals, which will take