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Mapped: The World’s LNG Chokepoints
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Key Takeaways
- The Strait of Hormuz is the most trafficked liquefied natural gas (LNG) chokepoint on Earth, where 21% of global LNG trade passes through.
- Over half (54%) of the world’s LNG trade must pass through a strategic chokepoint for market access.
Much like crude oil, LNG markets rely on safe passage through just a handful of narrow waterways. When passable, 54% of global LNG trade is shipped through these critical chokepoints to feed the world energy system every single day.
This visualization maps out the most important LNG chokepoints and their share of global LNG trade. The data is from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and is for the first half of 2025 in billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d).
What is Liquefied Natural Gas?
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been supercooled down to about -260° F / -162° C. When this happens, the gas condenses into a liquid, reducing its volume by roughly 600 times.
The massive reduction in volume enables local storage and global transport via tanker ships. It’s what allows countries with large reserves of natural gas, like the U.S. or Qatar, to sell to customers across the world. Once ‘re-gasified’ on land, that energy goes towards electric power generation, chemical feedstocks, and residential heating.
The Strait of Hormuz: The Most Critical LNG Chokepoint
Located between Iran and Oman, the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea corridor connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. It is the single most critical LNG chokepoint in the world, relied upon for 21% (11.4 Bcf) of global LNG volume.
| Chokepoint Location | 2025 H1 Volume (bcf/d) | % of World LNG trade |
|---|---|---|
| Strait of Hormuz | 11.4 | 21% |
| Strait of Malacca | 9.2 | 17% |
| Cape of Good Hope | 5.7 | 10% |
| Danish Straits | 1.6 | 3% |
| Suez Canal | 0.9 | 2% |
| Turkish Strait | 0.6 | 1% |
| Bab el-Mandeb Strait | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 29.4 | 54% |
While some oil can bypass the Strait of Hormuz using pipelines, this is the only path for natural gas producers, like Qatar, to move product to market. When over one-fifth of global LNG trade is disrupted, market volatility is sure to follow.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Since 2023, Yemen-based Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have stopped LNG flow entirely. The Bab el-Mandeb is the southern gateway of the Red Sea, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal and to European markets.
To avoid the LNG chokepoint, tankers must sail around the southern tip of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, which accounts for 10% (5.7 Bcf/d) of global LNG trade. The reroute adds roughly two weeks of travel time and significantly higher fuel costs to every voyage.
Other LNG Chokepoints (or Lack of) Around the World
In addition to Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, several other chokepoints control global LNG flow. The Strait of Malacca in Asia, second only to Hormuz, sees 17% (9.2 Bcf/d) of global LNG trade. In Europe, The Danish Straits move about 1.6 Bcf/d while the Turkish Straits move 0.6 Bcf/d.
North American LNG exports to Europe face no chokepoint dependencies, moving freely across the Atlantic. Though shipments to Asia may pass through the Panama Canal, North America’s extensive pipeline network can reroute fuels if necessary.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about the global natural gas market, check out this graphic visualizing the countries with the largest proven natural gas reserves on Voronoi.