Qatar has extended its 'force majeure' measures on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Asia and Europe for an additional month, due to ongoing disruptions impeding energy traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz. Qatar Energy, the state-owned firm, informed
clients in Pakistan and Bangladesh this week that LNG shipment cancellations will continue until November. One Indian buyer also received a similar notification, while Italy's Edison announced its allocated supplies remain suspended until early December. The company regularly updates clients on
force majeure procedures and scheduled cancellations since the outbreak of war with Iran, but has not commented immediately on recent developments. In September, Qatar increased Hormuz shipments compared to prior months, yet flows stayed well below pre-war levels. This comes
as Iran maintains its conditions for fully reopening the Strait, and US President Donald Trump's statements send mixed signals on a potential agreement. The crisis maintains pressure on a vital global energy route; nearly one-fifth of worldwide LNG supplies passed through
Hormuz last year. Concerns grow over continued shipment restrictions absent a clear US-Iran peace deal. These disruptions have pushed LNG prices in Europe and Asia near late-2022 highs, signaling rising energy costs and utility bills for the Northern Hemisphere this
winter. Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG export facility operates at reduced capacity since a March attack damaged some infrastructure. However, the company keeps it ready for rapid production increase if Hormuz reopens and navigation normalizes. The crisis highlights Qatar's significance in the
global gas market as a top LNG exporter, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a highly sensitive choke point for international energy trade.
