Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, in his annual speech to the Qatari Shura Council, referred to the problems caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to the Ras Laffan complex. He emphasized that these factors have led to the halt of a significant portion of the country's liquefied natural gas exports.
Call for Energy Security
The Emir of Qatar stated that the country supplies about one-fifth of the global liquefied natural gas trade, and any damage to this sector harms markets and consumers. He also emphasized that Doha has participated in ceasefire efforts and the reopening of waterways, considering the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries as a non-negotiable issue.
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Economic Damages and Decline in Exports
Currently, Qatar's liquefied gas exports have been severely damaged, and it is predicted that export volumes will fall to about 0.6 million tons by October 2026. This comes after Qatar's exports reached 1.6 million tons last September, the highest figure since the war began, but still less than a quarter of the pre-war average.
In recent months, Qatar's exports have sharply declined, with export volumes dropping to less than 2 million tons between April and June 2026, representing a decline of over 90% compared to about 20 million tons the previous year. The main cause of this situation was the Iranian missile strikes on the Ras Laffan complex on March 18, 2026, which damaged two LNG production lines and eliminated about 17% of Qatar's export capacity.
This damage costs Qatar approximately $20 billion annually, equivalent to over one-third (about 35%) of Qatar's total annual government revenues, and full repairs are expected to take between three to five years.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and security threats against vessels have severely restricted the passage of Qatar's LNG shipments through this strategic waterway. However, some Qatari tankers have managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since late September and early October, although export volumes still remain far below pre-war levels.
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