QatarEnergy Halves 2026 LNG Deliveries to Bangladesh

QatarEnergy has cut scheduled LNG deliveries to Bangladesh by half for 2026, prompting the country to seek alternative supplies as disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz continue to affect global LNG trade.

(Reuters) — QatarEnergy has halved its scheduled deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Bangladesh for this year, Petrobangla's acting chairman and industry sources said, as the fallout from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran continues to curb shipments of the fuel through the Strait of Hormuz.

"All these problems stem from the war," Abdul Mannan told Reuters on Monday.

"We are exploring alternative sources to bridge the expected shortfall, including higher spot-market purchases and government-to-government deals with other suppliers. We will pursue whichever option offers the most favorable commercial terms while ensuring the country's energy security."

Qatar was the world's second-largest LNG-producing country after the U.S. and is Bangladesh's largest supplier, accounting for about 4.15 million metric tons of the nearly 7 million tons imported by the South Asian nation last year.

State-run Petrobangla has two long-term contracts with QatarEnergy, one for 2.5 million tons per annum (MMtpy) and the other for 1.8 MMtpy.

Qatar has said it will try to maintain supplies as much as possible despite the cut in scheduled deliveries, Mannan added.

QatarEnergy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

War Changes All

Prior to the war, Bangladesh received 19 cargoes from Qatar this year via long-term supply deals, according to data from Kpler, an analytics firm.

But since the war broke out on February 28, Bangladesh has received no LNG cargoes loaded from Qatar's Ras Laffan export facility, prompting it to seek replacement supplies in the spot market to meet demand. Kpler data shows Bangladesh has imported 35 spot cargoes since March.

Only a handful of ballast LNG tankers have managed to enter the Strait of Hormuz to load cargoes and leave the Gulf. At least 14 LNG cargoes loaded at Ras Laffan have transited the strait since the war, but none have been delivered to Bangladesh, according to Kpler data.

About a fifth of the world's LNG supply typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz.