Asia LNG imports fall to six-year low amid Middle East war disruptions
Updated
Updated · OilPrice.com · Apr 26
Asia LNG imports fall to six-year low amid Middle East war disruptions
13 articles · Updated · OilPrice.com · Apr 26
April imports are projected at 19.03 million tons, down from 20.69 million in March and 26.34 million in December 2025, with China’s April total at a six-year low of 3.36 million tons.
The decline is driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Persian Gulf energy infrastructure, causing both voluntary and price-driven demand cuts across Asia.
With Qatari LNG largely absent, Asian buyers are turning to U.S. and Russian gas, while African producers operate below capacity; long-term supply increases remain years away, risking permanent demand destruction.
Can African gas producers ramp up supply fast enough to save Europe this winter?
Is this crisis the final nail in the coffin for natural gas?
Why is this energy shock destroying long-term demand, not just raising prices?
How will the Hormuz closure permanently reshape global trade and energy security?
Could the blockade of the Persian Gulf trigger a global food crisis?
Will the escalating Mideast cyberwar target critical US infrastructure next?
Strait of Hormuz Closure Triggers 20% Global LNG Supply Shock and Accelerates Asia’s Energy Transition
Overview
In February 2026, a U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran triggered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off about 20% of global LNG supply by forcing Qatar to shut down a significant portion of its production. This caused a sharp collapse in Asian LNG imports, with countries like China and India reducing purchases drastically, while Pakistan stopped imports entirely. The supply shock sent LNG prices soaring, intensifying competition between Asia and Europe and leading to severe economic impacts, including soaring energy costs and industrial disruptions. In response, Asian nations accelerated coal use, nuclear restarts, and renewable energy projects, reshaping the region's energy future amid prolonged supply shortages and a looming global LNG capacity surge.