Since the Iran war began in late February, LNG prices in Europe and Asia have surged to as much as six times US domestic gas prices, highlighting a tightening market with limited alternatives.

Hormuz choke — LNG flows & shortage

  • About 20% of global LNG trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz

  • Qatar halt: Shipments paused for ~2 months

  • Ras Laffan damage: ~17% capacity hit

  • US exports: About 18 billion cubic feet/day (near full capacity)

  • Price surge: Up to 6x US gas prices in Europe/Asia

  • Supply gap: No immediate replacement for lost Qatari LNG

  • Bottom line: Global LNG supply is tight, with limited spare capacity to offset disruptions.

Stephen N R

A Senior Associate Editor with more than 30 years in the media, Stephen N.R. curates, edits and publishes impactful stories for Gulf News — both in print and online — focusing on Middle East politics, student issues and explainers on global topics.

Stephen has spent most of his career in journalism, working behind the scenes — shaping headlines, editing copy and putting together newspaper pages with precision.

For the past many years, he has brought that same dedication to the Gulf News digital team, where he curates stories, crafts explainers and helps keep both the web and print editions sharp and engaging.