The Economist warns of global LNG shortage due to Middle East crisis
The global LNG deficit has reached 9%. The Economist predicts a supply glut by 2030.
The Economist magazine warned of a global shortage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid conflict in the Middle East, which in the future may be replaced by excess supply.
The deficit has already reached 39 million tons (9% of last year’s shipments). Prices are skyrocketing and European gas storage facilities are only 72% full, a historic low for this time of year (in Germany, 57%). The situation was aggravated by Qatar, which declared force majeure: since March, it has shipped 536 shipments less than in 2025.
However, according to Six One Commodities analyst Aimee Parpia, new projects launched to replace Russian gas continue to be implemented. By 2030, global supply could grow by 60% (to 630 million tons), while demand will slow due to countries’ return to coal, the development of renewable energy and nuclear power. That threatens the market with an "no less damaging glut.".
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