Qatar extends force majeure on LNG supplies by one month as Strait of Hormuz tensions persist

QatarEnergy has pushed back its force majeure declarations on liquefied natural gas deliveries by another month, citing continued uncertainty over when the Strait of Hormuz will fully reopen to commercial tanker traffic. The extension affects buyers across Europe and Asia, stretching potential delivery timelines into mid-September or even October 2026.

What happened at Ras Laffan and why it still matters

The trouble traces back to early March 2026, when Iranian missile strikes damaged Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex. The attack knocked out approximately 12.8 million tons per annum of processing capacity, a 17% hit to Qatar’s total output.

QatarEnergy declared force majeure shortly after. Since then, the broader conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz in a state of persistent disruption. Iranian attacks on maritime trade continued into July 2026, making the shipping lane too risky for normal operations.

QatarEnergy has extended the force majeure multiple times through spring and summer, with previous extensions pushing dates to mid-June, then mid-August, and now into late September or October.

The buyers feeling the squeeze

The latest extension impacts long-term contract holders in South Korea, India, Bangladesh, and Italy. Italy’s exposure illustrates the scale of the problem. Edison, the Italian energy company, has seen 24 cargoes affected, equivalent to roughly 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

The estimated annual revenue loss for QatarEnergy itself sits at approximately $20 billion. Buyers who can’t get their contracted volumes are being forced into the spot market, where prices have already climbed significantly. Asian and European LNG spot prices have surged as the market prices in the reality that nearly 20% of global LNG supply faces some form of disruption.

The scramble for alternatives

US LNG exporters have emerged as the most obvious alternative, and buyers from both continents have been redirecting procurement efforts toward American cargoes. QatarEnergy has also tried to soften the blow by offering its own LNG tankers on spot deals, essentially rerouting available supply where possible.

What to watch heading into winter

Northern hemisphere countries typically begin building gas inventories in the summer and early fall to prepare for winter heating demand. With Qatari supply still uncertain through at least September, the window for comfortable stockpiling is narrowing.

The recovery timeline at Ras Laffan itself is the other variable. A 17% capacity loss from physical infrastructure damage doesn’t get fixed quickly, and estimates indicate that recovery efforts could extend over a span of 3 to 5 years.