QatarEnergy Extends LNG Force Majeure as Hormuz Blockage Cuts Exports 96%

August 28, 2026 at 07:30 PM2 min

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QatarEnergy extended force majeure on LNG deliveries through October, with some European cancellations running into early November. The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked for LNG traffic, cutting Qatar's exports by up to 96% and costing $24 billion in lost sales since April.

Key Facts

QatarEnergy notified buyers in Pakistan and Bangladesh that LNG cargo cancellations would continue through October.
Edison of Italy said the force majeure and cargo cancellations were extended into early November.
Qatar's LNG exports tumbled by as much as 96%, with only 18 cargoes shipped compared to 509 in the same period last year.
Qatar has lost $24 billion in sales since the Iran war crippled its LNG exports via the Strait of Hormuz six months ago.
Oil flows through Hormuz have rebounded in recent weeks, but LNG traffic remains at a standstill.

Force Majeure Extension

QatarEnergy extended its force majeure on LNG deliveries by several weeks as the Strait of Hormuz remained blocked for LNG traffic. The company notified buyers in Pakistan and Bangladesh this week that LNG cargo cancellations would continue through October. Some previously planned deliveries to Europe under long-term deals have also been cancelled beyond September. Edison of Italy said the force majeure and cargo cancellations were extended into early November. As of July 28, a total of 24 LNG cargoes for delivery to Edison were subject to force majeure since April, representing approximately 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

Export Collapse

Six months since the Iran war crippled Qatar's LNG exports via the Strait of Hormuz, the world's second-largest liquefied natural gas exporter has lost $24 billion in sales. Exports tumbled by as much as 96%, according to Reuters calculations. The number of LNG cargoes that Qatar has managed to export crashed to just 18, down from 509 cargoes shipped in the same period of last year. Data from intelligence firm ICIS, cited by Reuters, confirmed the sharp decline in cargo volumes.

Hormuz Bottleneck

Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are estimated to have rebounded in recent weeks, but LNG traffic remains at a standstill. Unlike crude oil, LNG cannot be shuttle-shipped through Hormuz and then reloaded via ship-to-ship transfer. Persian Gulf producers, including Qatar, have used ship-to-ship transfers to ship oil to customers with alternative methods and routes in recent months.