Qatar LNG Supply Uncertain as Jera Warns of Continued Disruptions
The world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyer, Japan's Jera, does not expect Qatar to return to LNG supply any time soon. This comes after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz persisted, curtailing flows from a region that accounted for about a fifth of global supply before the Middle East war.
Jera's chairman and global CEO, Yukio Kani, made this statement on Bloomberg TV on October 2, 2026. LNG spot prices have more than doubled since last year and are now at their highest level since late 2022 in September due to Qatar's reduced supply.
The tighter market has sparked competition between Europe and Asia for alternate supply from the US and other regions. Kani noted that seasonally low gas storage levels in Europe, combined with an EU policy to ban Russian LNG imports from January, suggest spot prices will continue to rise.
Kani emphasized that if Europe experiences a severe winter, they may have no choice but to buy LNG for heating energy, putting them in a difficult situation. The Strait of Hormuz transit is still 80 per cent below February levels, and Qatar has extended force majeure on shipments to long-term customers until November.