Qatar has bought up to 33 US LNG cargoes this year, with Ras Laffan damage estimated at about $20 billion a year

Reuters reported on Thursday, 30 July 2026, citing industry and trade sources, that state-owned QatarEnergy has bought as many as 33 LNG cargoes on the spot market from the United States so far this year in order to ship them to its customers in Asia and reduce the impact of its own stranded supply. That figure vastly exceeds the four US cargoes the company bought last year.

According to the report, the purchases were made largely directly from the US producer and exporter Venture Global, and were intended to preserve Qatar's reputation as a reliable LNG supplier in Asia. The cargoes were destined for key Asian buyers including Japan, South Korea, India, Bangladesh and Taiwan. Data from the analytics firm Kpler cited by Reuters show that 28 of the 33 cargoes have already been delivered, with the remaining five currently travelling to South Korea, Taiwan and India.

Early in the war, QatarEnergy declared force majeure on LNG deliveries after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to its Ras Laffan liquefaction complex. The company expects the damage to Ras Laffan, the world's single largest LNG-producing facility, to cost it about $20 billion a year in lost revenue and to take up to five years to repair. China, the world's top LNG importer, is also reported to be in talks to secure long-term supplies from exporters that do not need the Strait of Hormuz.