Global liquefied natural gas exports have collapsed to a six-month low, erasing recent supply additions from the United States and other producers as the conflict in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz throttle international energy flows.
The sharp drop underscores the vulnerability of global LNG markets to regional disruptions. Major exporters including Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain—which together account for roughly 30% of world LNG production—remain unable to route shipments through the Hormuz Strait, the primary export gateway for Middle Eastern LNG. Alternative routes through the Suez Canal face congestion and elevated security risks.
American and Australian LNG producers are working at full capacity to compensate, but existing pipeline constraints and vessel availability limitations mean new supply cannot reach global markets fast enough. The result is a structural supply shortfall that is expected to persist for weeks or months, depending on the geopolitical trajectory. Energy analysts warn that this represents the largest-ever supply shock for global LNG markets, exceeding disruptions from previous conflicts and natural disasters.
TankerMap Data: Of 904 LNG carriers tracked globally, over 40% are currently bottlenecked in the Gulf or rerouting through longer, costlier southern passages. Average voyage times from the Gulf to Europe have doubled, compressing profit margins for shipping operators.