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QatarEnergy (QE) purchased 33 spot LNG cargoes this year from the U.S. for delivery to South Korea, Taiwan, Bangladesh, India, and Japan, according to four trade and industry sources, in an attempt to reduce disruptions to key customers after Qatari gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz were halted due to the war with Iran.
QE declared force majeure on its liquefied natural gas shipments after Iran closed the waterway to shipping, leading to the paralysis of 20% of the world's oil and gas supply from major producers exporting from terminals around the Gulf.
The purchases of the American product far exceed the four cargoes the company acquired last year, in an attempt to maintain supply to some of its customers despite the force majeure declaration, which exempts it from its contractual obligations. According to sources, Qatar sought to protect its reputation, built over decades, as one of the world's most reliable gas suppliers.
According to Reuters calculations, the 33 cargoes represent one-third of monthly exports derived from quantitative easing before the conflict and were valued at approximately $1 billion.
Around 80% of Qatar's LNG shipments are normally exported to buyers in Asia, and the move was "a gesture of good faith" by QE towards some of its important customers, according to one source.
QE wanted to show its customers that it valued them and was trying to help them maintain supply, another person added.
According to sources, QE purchased the cargoes directly from U.S. producer Venture Global LNG, in addition to picking up cargoes from some of Venture Global's customers.
Of the 33 cargoes, 28 have already been delivered and the remaining five are en route to South Korea, Taiwan, and India, according to data analytics firm Kpler.
In recent years, the United States has become the world's largest LNG exporter, and producers like Venture Global have benefited from demand for alternative supplies both during the Iran war and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
