JERA Chief Predicts Sustained LNG Price Hikes Through Winter

QatarEnergy has extended its force majeure on deliveries through the end of November, forcing importers to navigate a market already rattled by the highest price points since the 2022 energy crisis. Kani noted that the lack of Qatari supply, combined with historically low storage levels across Europe, creates a dangerous environment for both price-sensitive Asian buyers and European utilities.

Data from Gas Infrastructure Europe shows EU storage sites at 71% capacity, well below the 86% average of the past five years. Germany remains particularly exposed, with storage levels hovering near 58%. These supply constraints, exacerbated by the looming January 2027 ban on Russian LNG, suggest that the current price surge is not a temporary anomaly but the start of a sustained period of market instability. Faced with these prospects, many nations are pivoting toward coal and accelerated renewable targets to hedge against potential winter shortages.