When Russia attacked Ukraine four years ago, the world’s goods supply system was shaken. The prices of gas and oil had increased rapidly and many countries had to face severe energy shortage. Now, seeing the increasing tension in the Middle East, the same concern is coming to the fore again. Especially there are signs of danger on the supply of LPG and LNG, due to which the prices of gas cylinders may increase in the future.
The Middle East region is very important not only because of politics but also for energy supply. A large amount of the world’s natural gas and LNG is sent to other countries from here. Qatar is among the world’s largest LNG exporting countries. Many countries in Asia get a major part of its supply. Countries like India and China buy large quantities of gas from Qatar. If there is even a slight interruption in this supply, it can have a direct impact on prices.
What are the experts saying?
Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a researcher at the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy, said on social media that there is no other alternative. He said that it is difficult to say whether the prices will increase more in Asia or Europe. The impact on Europe may be slightly less, but gas reserves there are less. Everything will depend on how much gas is sent to Asia.
Qatar had exported 82.2 million tonnes of LNG in 2025. According to traders, scheduled maintenance is going on in a unit of Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas plant since last week, due to which production will remain low for some time.
Case of Iran and Türkiye
According to the information, Iran has an agreement to supply 9.6 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey every year, but in recent times the actual supply has been less than the stipulated quantity. According to data from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, gas from Iran was less than 15% of Türkiye’s total gas imports in 2024.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz a cause for concern?
The center of this entire matter is the Strait of Hormuz. About 20% of the world’s LNG supply passes through this narrow sea route. It is considered an important choke point i.e. a sensitive route of global energy supply. If the movement of ships is affected here, there may be a shortage of gas across the world. According to recent reports, some LNG tankers have stopped their journey or started looking for safer routes.
Why more impact on Asia?
Four years ago, the Russia-Ukraine war forced Europe to pay a heavy price for its dependence on Russian gas. At that time there was a record increase in gas prices. Now if the situation worsens in the Middle East, Asia may be affected more. Asian countries have limited gas reserves and are more dependent on imports. If the supply from Qatar or Gulf countries is affected then the prices may increase first in the Asian market.
What does it mean for India?
India also imports a large part of its needs. Long-term gas agreements are often linked to the price of crude oil. If Brent crude becomes expensive, the price of gas may also increase. This means that even if the fluctuations in the open market are less visible, ultimately customers may be affected.
Will the prices of domestic gas cylinders increase?
At present, the eyes of the market are fixed on how soon the situation becomes normal. If the tension does not end soon, the world may once again move towards an energy crisis. In such a situation, the possibility of increase in the prices of domestic gas cylinders cannot be ruled out. However, the final decision will depend on the international situation and oil and gas prices.
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