Middle East liquefied natural gas exports remain constrained by Hormuz disruption

Liquefied natural gas exports out of the Middle East have failed to recover seven and a half months after the Iran war disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Oilprice reported. Flows through the maritime chokepoint remain more than 75 percent below pre-war levels. The Strait of Hormuz previously carried one fifth of global liquefied natural gas supplies before the conflict began. [1]

Only occasional gas cargoes have passed through the passage since March, according to Oilprice. These rare shipments have made little impact on the global gas market, which continues to face severe supply constraints. The International Energy Agency has characterized the disruption from the 2026 Iran war as the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. [1][8]

In parallel oil markets, crude prices settled mixed on October 13 as Middle East supply risks persisted, Rigzone News reported. Brent crude settled below $106 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate recorded a slight gain. Rigzone News added that Saudi Arabia intercepted additional missiles and drones launched by Yemen's Houthis on Tuesday as regional fighting continued. [2]

European energy buyers have turned to alternative suppliers to secure gas volumes. Equinor has signed a five-year contract to export nearly 32 billion cubic feet, or about 9 terawatt hours, of natural gas to Dutch utility Eneco, according to Rigzone News. Deliveries to the Dutch gas grid began on October 1 to serve residential and small business customers in the Netherlands. [3]