European Gas Climbs Amid Supply Concerns

European natural gas prices rose to €73.7/MWh on Tuesday, hovering at their highest level in more than three and a half years, as LNG supply from the Persian Gulf remained severely disrupted amid heightened US-Iran tensions. The escalation in fighting between the two nations underscored the difficulty of reaching a resolution to the conflict that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran on Monday warning that energy infrastructure across the region, including US oil and gas facilities, could be vulnerable to further attacks. Qatar has largely suspended LNG shipments and extended force majeure on cargoes bound for European and Asian markets through the autumn, as shipping disruptions continue along the critical waterway. The reduced inflow has slowed the pace of gas storage injections in Europe, with EU storage facilities around 66% full, below the seasonal average, leaving the gas market increasingly vulnerable as the heating season approaches.

European natural gas prices jumped more than 2% to above €73/MWh on Monday, their highest level in more than three and a half years, amid escalating US-Iran tensions that could further disrupt energy supplies from the Persian Gulf. Iran said it had targeted oil tankers and several US-linked vessels and plans to establish a restricted maritime zone beyond the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days. This followed US strikes on Iranian oil tankers, which Washington said were carried out in retaliation for Tehran’s missile attacks on US Navy warships. The continuing tit-for-tat escalation is heightening concerns that Qatari LNG shipments to Europe could be delayed even further. Europe is approaching the end of its summer storage injection period, with gas storage facilities currently around 62% full, below the five-year seasonal average. This increases the risk of tighter competition for supplies and leaves the region more exposed to price spikes during the colder months.

European natural gas prices rose above €72 per MWh on Friday, recouping part of the previous session’s losses as investors assessed renewed tensions in the Middle East. The latest flare-up came after a US attack on Iran triggered retaliatory strikes on American bases across the region, fueling supply disruption fears and sending European gas prices to their highest level in more than three years. Although President Trump indicated that renewed strikes on Tehran would not last too long, tensions remain high around the Strait of Hormuz. The shipping paralysis continues to hamper Gulf LNG supplies to Europe, slowing the pace of inventory replenishment. Europe’s gas inventories for the upcoming winter remain abnormally low, raising the risk of tighter competition and leaving the region vulnerable to price spikes during colder months. European gas prices have climbed more than 7% this week, their fourth consecutive weekly gain.