Europe’s Gas Prices Jump as Hormuz Standoff Drags On

Europe’s benchmark natural gas prices jumped by 4% at trade open in Amsterdam on Thursday, as the United States and Iran remain distant on how to end the war and put an end to the blocked LNG shipments at the Strait of Hormuz. After surging 4% at open, the front-month price at the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF), the benchmark for Europe’s gas trading, eased, but was still up by 3% at $84.30 (74 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh) as of mid-morning. Prices have eased from their peak for this month of as much as $93 (82 euros) per MWh,…

LNG Market Background

The global LNG market has undergone a structural transformation in recent years, with U.S. exports reshaping trade flows and providing consuming nations with greater supply optionality. European buyers have accelerated long-term LNG contracting following the disruption of Russian pipeline gas supplies.

New LNG liquefaction capacity — from the U.S. Gulf Coast, Qatar's North Field expansion, and Australian projects — is expected to add significant supply volumes through the late 2020s, with implications for long-term contract pricing and spot market dynamics.

What to Watch

Stakeholders will be tracking spot LNG cargo pricing in Asian and European markets, liquefaction plant utilization rates, and upcoming long-term supply contract negotiations as global LNG trade flows continue to evolve.