Hormuz Crisis Continues to Restrict Qatari LNG Deliveries

Qatar has extended its force-majeure suspension of liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries to buyers in Asia and Europe due to ongoing disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. The extension means that scheduled LNG cargoes for buyers in Bangladesh and Pakistan could remain cancelled through November, affecting at least one Indian buyer as well.

QatarEnergy, the state-owned energy company, notified buyers of the continued cancellations, citing the persistence of security risks around the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has severely restricted LNG shipments through the waterway, which accounts for almost 20% of global trade, with Qatar and the UAE responsible for the majority of those flows.

The approaching northern-hemisphere winter could further intensify pressure on LNG markets as demand for natural gas typically rises during colder months. Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan are among the Asian markets most exposed to disruptions in Qatari and other Gulf LNG supplies, which could lead to increased competition for alternative LNG cargoes and higher spot-market prices.