Dutch TTF Natural Gas Price Tops €70 per MWh Amid Geopolitical Tensions
The Dutch TTF natural gas price has exceeded €70 per megawatt-hour for the first time since January 2023, driven by geopolitical risk and supply anxiety. The benchmark price hit an intraday high of €70.49/MWh on August 31, following renewed fighting between the US and Iran.
The conflict has pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns about LNG shipments transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This comes at a time when gas storage facilities are filled to just 65%, well below the five-year seasonal average of 80-82%. The gap represents an enormous amount of gas that needs to be sourced, shipped, and injected before heating demand ramps up.
Qatar has extended its force majeure declaration on natural gas shipments through November 2026, curdling an estimated 17-20% of global LNG supply since early 2026. This is the same issue that caused TTF prices to spike in July and retreat into the €40s in June when a temporary ceasefire was announced.
The Dutch TTF replaced the UK's NBP as Europe's dominant gas benchmark, and it now functions as the reference price for a significant share of global LNG trade. The price is still well below the panic highs of August 2022, when TTF briefly touched €340/MWh in the immediate aftermath of Russia's supply cuts.