Qatar Extends LNG Force Majeure Amid Strait of Hormuz Standoff

Amid the standoff between the United States and Iran surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, as disruptions to energy logistics in the Gulf region prolong, Qatar has reportedly extended its force majeure declaration on liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies bound for Asia and Europe by another month.

According to foreign media outlets including Bloomberg on the 28th (local time), QatarEnergy, the state-run energy company of Qatar, recently notified Pakistan and Bangladesh that LNG shipment cancellations will continue through November.

An importer in India also received notice that the measure would remain in place, and Italian energy company Edison stated that the suspension of supplies to the company will last until early December.

Since the outbreak of the war with Iran, QatarEnergy has been updating customers on the force majeure situation roughly once a month and canceling scheduled deliveries.

The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding this measure.

Although Qatar slightly increased its shipping volume through the Strait of Hormuz this month, total transport volumes still remain significantly below pre-war levels.

In particular, Iran recently maintained a hardline stance that it will not ease conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. President Donald Trump has also sent mixed signals regarding his willingness to reach an agreement, leaving a resolution to the crisis shrouded in uncertainty.

As the conclusion of a peace treaty between the United States and Iran remains distant, transport disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—which handled about 20 percent of global LNG supplies last year—are increasingly likely to be prolonged.

This supply crunch has driven LNG prices in Europe and Asia to their highest levels since late 2022, raising concerns that it will further exacerbate energy cost burdens heading into the upcoming winter season in the Northern Hemisphere.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.