Cautious optimism is growing that Korea’s shipbuilding industry could benefit from rising tensions in the Middle East in the wake of U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran. The outlook stems mainly from expectations of stronger demand for vessels to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, after Qatar suspended operations at its Ras Laffan plant on Monday. The shutdown followed Iranian drone attacks on the world’s largest LNG export facility. “Korean shipbuilders can take advantage of the Strait of Hormuz blockade and the suspended LNG exports from Qatar,” DS Investment & Securities analyst Kim Dae-seong said Wednesday. He predicted that Asian and European countries would turn to the U.S. as an alternative source of LNG imports, given the mounting uncertainty over Middle Eastern supply chains. “The recent crisis will likely lead to purchase agreements and final investment decisions on U.S. LNG projects under the phase of front-end engineering designs,” Kim said. “Unlike Chinese shipyards relying heavily on orders from China and the Middle East, Korea