economy
IEA says Iran war will keep the global natural gas market tight for two years
April 24, 2026 / 1:39 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- The Iran war is expected to disrupt global natural gas supplies for two years.
- Damage to LNG facilities in Qatar has reduced its LNG capacity by 17%, with repairs estimated to take up to five years.
- The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut off one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies.
- The crisis is expected to delay the impact of the anticipated global LNG expansion wave by at least two years.
- Short-term supply losses and slower capacity growth could lead to a cumulative loss of 120 billion cubic meters of LNG supply through 2030.
- Tight markets are expected to persist through 2026 and 2027.
- Natural gas demand fell in March due to higher prices and demand-side policy measures, particularly in Asian countries.
- The duration of the Strait of Hormuz closure is a key uncertainty affecting global gas demand in 2026.