Global LNG importers to splash $39 billion more in 2026 while buying less, Rystad says

Rystad Energy estimates that global liquefied natural gas (LNG) importers will spend at least $39 billion more on contracted and spot supplies in 2026, despite buying 60.7 million tonnes less, as more buyers turn to the spot market to replace volumes disrupted by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Rystad Energy said on Monday that disruptions to Qatari and UAE exports through the Strait of Hormuz are forcing buyers to secure replacement volume at higher prices.

Total portfolio costs are expected to reach $256 billion, up 18 percent from a pre-war estimate, underscoring how importers face different levels of exposure depending on their contract coverage, pricing benchmarks and ability to reduce demand, according to Rystad Energy.

Rystad Energy’s modeling assumes that Qatari and UAE LNG deliveries will be unavailable from March through the end of 2026.

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