Oxford, UK, July 22 (SANA)TheOxford Institute for EnergyStudies confirmed that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing conflict in theMiddle Eastled to a contraction in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market during the second quarter of 2026, amid declining Gulf supplies and intensifying global competition for cargoes.

In a report published Tuesday on its official website, the institute noted thatglobal LNGsupplies fell by around 6 billion cubic meters (4.6%) year on year, following a sharp drop of 23 billion cubic meters in Qatar’s exports, compared with only 17 billion cubic meters of additional supply from other regions.

The report explained that although shipments that had departed the Gulf before the Hormuz disruptions helped soften the impact during the first quarter, the full effects of the crisis became evident in the second quarter as export restrictions persisted.