Qatar extends LNG force majeure as Hormuz disruption threatens winter supply

Qatar has extended a force majeure notice on liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to Asia and Europe for an additional month, as ongoing disruptions continue to impede energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. State-owned QatarEnergy informed Pakistan and Bangladesh last week that LNG cancellations would persist through November, according to sources familiar with the situation.

India and Italy have also been notified of the measure remaining in place, with Edison stating its deliveries would remain suspended until early December. QatarEnergy has not yet commented on the extension.

Since the start of the Iran war, QatarEnergy has been updating LNG customers on the force majeure situation, canceling scheduled deliveries roughly once a month. While the company has managed to increase shipments through the waterway this month, flows are still significantly below prewar levels. Iran has stated it will not ease conditions for reopening Hormuz, while U.S. President Donald Trump has provided mixed signals about his willingness to negotiate a deal.

This disruption threatens to keep flows constrained through the waterway, which handled about a fifth of global LNG supply last year, with a U.S.-Iranian peace agreement still pending.

The situation has pushed LNG prices in Europe and Asia to their highest levels since late 2022, potentially leading to increased utility bills during the Northern Hemisphere winter. Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG export facility has been operating at reduced capacity since it was attacked and damaged in March. The plant remains ready for a rapid increase in output should Hormuz reopen.