Arab LNG Exports Slump 24% in Q1 2026 After Ras Laffan Damage and Hormuz Blockade

According to OAPEC's quarterly report, Arab liquefied natural gas exports fell by nearly 24% to 22 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2026 from 29 million tonnes in the same period of 2025, following Iranian missile strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan facilities in March and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar, the world's third-largest proven gas reserve holder, saw its LNG exports decline by more than a third to 14.5 million tonnes from 22 million tonnes year-over-year. The UAE's exports also plunged by approximately 39% to around 1 million tonnes from 1.6 million tonnes. The decline pushed Arab states' share of global LNG trade below 20 percent for the first time in many years.