LNG

LNG use for transport is driving infrastructure investment in China, where the fleet of LNG-fuelled trucks tripled since 2019 and reached more 1 million vehicles at the beginning of 2026. However, battery electric trucks have now outcompeted LNG ones, capturing 29 percent market share in 2025 versus LNG's 24.8 percent .

Asia-Pacific energy exporters – notably Australia – stand to benefit first if the Iran conflict prolongs disruption to Qatari LNG supply as buyers scramble for replacement cargoes, Fitch Ratings said. Buyers are turning to producers in Australia and Indonesia, which offer immediate alternatives.

US LNG developers have secured 40 mtpa of LNG offtake from planned export projects in 2025, their strongest commercial year since 2022. Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 led the pack with 1.4 Bcf/d contracts, and Asian and European buyers keep coming for more amid Qatar’s export suspension.

Venture Global LNG has agreed to sell about 0.5 mtpa of US LNG to commodity trader Trafigura for five years starting in 2026. The contract highlights how traders are locking in flexible US LNG volumes to brace for the risk of a protracted halt of shipments out of Qatar.

Qatar’s stock market fell sharply after QatarEnergy announced it had suspended LNG output after drone attacks attributed to Iran hit facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City. Crude oil prices soared 13% to over $82 while prices at Europe’s gas trading benchmark, the Dutch TTF surged by more nearly 40%, underscoring how tightly integrated global power‑generation markets are with LNG shipments from the Arab Gulf region.

TEPCO is rushing to restart of Unit 6 Japan’s largest nuclear power station to displace LNG-fuelled power at a time of escalating gas prices. With 1,356 MW installed capacity, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6, is could help avoid combustion of 1.3 million tons of imported LNG, based on Japanese government estimates of fuel substitution.

Japan’s three major shipping lines – Nippon Yusen, Kawasaki Kaisha and Mitsui O.S.K. – have suspended all vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz following US and Israeli air strikes on Iran. Instead, they order LNG carriers and crude oil tankers to standby in the Persian Gulf in safe waters, impacting prices.

Elevated US gas production is offsetting the bullish price impact of unseasonably cold weather through early March, while the ramp-up of Golden Pass LNG lifted feedgas intake to about 0.25 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d).

Adriatic LNG has expanded its role as a key hub for Italy, with the operator boosting the terminal’s regas capacity from 9 to 9.5 bcm per year and daily output from 26 to 28.5 million cubic meters. The additional volume has already been fully allocated to users through 2045.

METLEN Energy & Metals has established a framework with Shell for the supply and trade of 0.5 to 1.0 bcm per year over the between 2027 and 2031. Deliveries will go to the Greek LNG regas terminals in Revithoussa and Alexandroupolis.