LNG

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.

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.

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.

Golar LNG is holding off fresh capital for its fourth floating LNG unit, citing deteriorating yard economics. The 3.5 mtpa unit had been scheduled for delivery in late 2027 with not deployment location confirmed as yet.

Rampant feedgas demand for US LNG exports is speeding up the completion of intrastate pipelines, with total capacity now reaching approximately 6.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), according to the EIA’s updated Natural gas Pipeline Projects Tracker. About 85%, or 5.3 Bcf/d, of the additional capacity is designed to move shale gas from the Haynesville and Permian formations to the Louisiana Gulf Coast.

Canada's Whitecap Resources has agreed to deliver 50,000 MMBtu/day – equivalent of five LNG cargoes annually – to Centrica starting from April 2028, with pricing linked to Europe’s TTF benchmark.