Suspected drone strike near Hormuz raises LNG shipping risk
A suspected drone strike on a merchant vessel near the Strait of Hormuz is testing a fragile U.S.–Iran framework agreement to restore shipping flows through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, with implications for LNG trade.
Unions end Ichthys LNG strike
Australian unions have ceased all strike actions at Ichthys LNG onshore and offshore facilities, having reached a pay deal with Japan’s Inpex. The walkout began on June 2 and had forced Inpex to shut one of two liquefaction trains at its plant in Darwin this week.
Ichthys LNG strike extended to July 6; all loadings at risk
Australia's Offshore Alliance is seeking to extend industrial action through July 6, threatening to halt all loadings at the Inpex-operated Ichthys LNG terminal. The strikes were initially expected to end on June 23.
Strike at Ichthys LNG to escalate from Thursday
Workers at Ichthys LNG have threatened to escalate strikes starting Thursday after wage negotiations with Inpex failed, raising the concerns over disruptions to roughly 10% of Australia's LNG exports.
Workers walk out at Woodside’s NWS and Pluto LNG plants
Maintenance workers at Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf and Pluto LNG export plants in Australia went on strike late Wednesday after talks with contractor UGL collapsed. The NWS terminal in Karratha produces 14.3 mtpa of LNG, while Pluto has a capacity of 4.9 mtpa, making them a material source of Australian LNG supply.
Ichthys LNG strike risk leaves Japan most exposed
Strike threats at Inpex-operated Ichthys LNG terminal from May 27 leave Japan most vulnerable, given its heavy reliance on contracted Australian supply. Around 70% of the LNG from the 9.3 mtpa Ichthys facility in Darwin is sold to Japanese offtakers, notably JERA, Kansai Electric, Kyushu Electric, Osaka Gas, Toho Gas, and Tokyo Gas.
Woodside’s Pluto LNG 2 start-up threatened by strike vote
Woodside Energy's Australian LNG production faces disruption as union members voted to strike at the Pluto LNG 2 project, threatening the facility's planned second-half 2026 start-up.
South Pars strikes escalate TTF prices, squeeze EU-Turkey supply
Asian buyers are set to outcompete Europe for US LNG cargoes, driven by stronger price signals and falling freight rates that reopen arbitrage opportunities to the Pacific basin.
Qatar stocks fall on LNG production halt after Iran drone attacks
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.
TTF prices bullish on risk of US strikes on Iran
Prompt prices at the Dutch TTF gas trading hub are rising on mounting risk that US strikes Iran – now seen as “more likely than not” – could threaten LNG trade flows via the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 7.1 million tons per month of LNG from Qatar and the UAE currently transits the Strait of Hormuz, or one-fifth of global LNG trade.
