Qatar Loses First LNG Customer Since War Disrupted Flows

Nov 11, 2026 (Bloomberg) –Polish energy company Orlen SA terminated one of its long-term liquefied natural gas contracts with QatarEnergy, citing the export giant’s inability to deliver as the conflict in the Middle East disrupts shipments.

The annulment is the first by a customer of QatarEnergy, which supplied about a fifth of the world’s LNG until the war between the US and Iran throttled its shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and damaged its export infrastructure. It is another blow for the emirate, as the nation’s budget deficit increases because of the lost revenue.

Missile strikes in March damaged the world’s largest LNG export plant in Qatar — badly damaging two of its 14 production units and forcing the supplier to declare force majeure, a legal clause allowing producers to miss deliveries due to factors beyond their control, on shipments for the first time. Iranian attacks on vessels continue to slow shipping through Hormuz, cutting gas flows to a third of pre-war levels last month.

The inability to meet contractual obligations led to the dissolving of the contract that was meant to run until 2034 and had an estimated value of €570 million ($637 million) this year, Orlen said in a statement on Tuesday. The agreement remains in force for a further 60 days. Orlen will retain a second supply contract with Qatar.

This story was originally published by gCaptain. Read the full story at gCaptain →