Korea’s Qatari gap: Restraint, not replacement
South Korea’s steady inflow of Qatari LNG of roughly 0.6-0.9 MMt per month for the past two years was disrupted by the Ras Laffan air strikes in March and the subsequent force majeure. The last Qatari cargo to date discharged at Incheon on 9 March, with replacement volumes scattered across multiple sources.
Indian utilities’ spot LNG purchases surge 300%
India’s power-sector LNG buying stays high into June as utilities scramble to offset missing term cargoes. None of India’s 16 GW gas-grid connected powergen capacity received contracted Qatari LNG cargoes in April and May, amid widespread heatwaves. Provisional June data indicate the shortfall persisted, keeping spot procurement at unusually high levels.
US shale output surges on Qatar LNG disruption
Shale gas production in the US is projected to surge by up to 40% as American supply fills the gap caused by force majeure on Qatari LNG shipments. Analysts expect US LNG to double, exceeding 30 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) by 2050.
AI energy needs could flip LNG glut into shortage by 2030
Soaring electricity demand from AI data centres could transform the upcoming global LNG glut into a shortage by 2030, QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi said at the LNG2026 conference in Doha. If demand overshoots expectations and the LNG build-out cannot keep pace, prices may spiral.
Climate finance gap reinforces role of LNG in Asia
Global climate finance commitments remain stuck at $100 billion annually – far below the $300 billion target. The widening finance gap and slow coordination on carbon policy translate into a growing role of LNG in Asia’s energy mix, particularly in emerging markets.
