Qatar LNG faces long road back after unprecedented disruption Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export operations have experienced their most severe disruption in over two decades, with analysts warning that while partial recovery may occur within months, full restoration of pre-disruption output could take years. Data from tanker and gas analyst Nikolas Zannikos at AXSMarine highlights the dramatic decline in shipments, which plummeted from a near-decade-long range of 5.6 million to 7.8 million tonnes per month to just 0.47 million tonnes in March and 0.23 million tonnes in April. Year-to-date exports for 2026 now stand at 14.85 million tonnes, compared to a nine-year average of 27.1 million tonnes for the same period—a shortfall of approximately 12 million tonnes, equivalent to around 15% of a typical annual output. Zannikos described the scale of the disruption as “unprecedented,” noting that January and February 2026 remained within historical norms before flows collapsed following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent missile strikes on liquefaction Trains 4 and 6 in mid-March. These strikes, combined with the shutdown of Hormuz transit routes, severely impacted capacity, with the closure of two major trains reducing operational output. The disruption has also led to a declaration of force majeure by QatarEnergy on long-term contracts, forcing buyers in Asia and Europe to seek alternative supplies. Much of this demand has shifted to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where new terminals like Plaquemines, Corpus Christi, and Sabine Pass have helped mitigate the global supply shock. LNG Canada has also begun contributing volumes after its first cargoes in 2025. The recovery is expected to unfold in three distinct phases, each with varying timelines.#strait_of_hormuz #qatar_lng #qatar_energy #plaquemines #corpus_christi
Qatar LNG, Saudi Refinery, Israeli Oil, Gas Fields Down Due to Mideast Strikes Qatar halted its liquefied natural gas production on Monday as Iranian strikes against Gulf countries continued, triggering precautionary shutdowns of oil and gas facilities across the Middle East. The attacks, part of Iran’s retaliation for Israeli and U.S. strikes, disrupted operations at Saudi Arabia’s largest domestic oil refinery, major Israeli gas fields, and most oil production in Iraqi Kurdistan. Qatari LNG output accounts for roughly 20% of global supply, playing a critical role in meeting demand from Asian and European markets. The disruption followed a wave of attacks that stretched into a third day, with drones targeting facilities in Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial complex and the Mesaieed industrial zone. These strikes forced QatarEnergy, the state-owned energy firm, to consider declaring force majeure on its LNG shipments. The Ras Laffan complex houses Qatar’s gas trains, which process natural gas into liquid form for export. The attacks also led to the shutdown of Saudi Aramco’s 550,000 barrels per day Ras Tanura refinery, which serves as a key export terminal for Saudi crude oil. A Saudi defense ministry spokesperson confirmed two drones were intercepted at the facility, causing a limited fire but no injuries. While some refinery units were temporarily shut, local petroleum supply to markets remained unaffected. In Iraqi Kurdistan, oil production was halted at several fields, including those operated by DNO, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Dana Gas, and HKN Energy. The region, which previously exported 200,000 barrels per day to Turkey, reported no damage from the precautionary shutdowns. Israeli gas fields, including the Leviathan field, were also shut down as part of safety measures.#qatar_lng #saudi_refinery #iranian_strikes #israeli_gas_fields #iraq_kurdistan
