European natural gas futures traded in a narrow range as traders weighed Iran’s comments on the vital Strait of Hormuz, assessing the outlook for energy shipments from the Middle East.

The UK added some natural gas into its storage sites in recent days, as a price surge triggered by the Middle East conflict attracted imports.

European natural gas dropped after US President Donald Trump predicted the Iran war will end soon, as he faces mounting pressure over how the conflict has upended energy markets.

Qatar appears to have loaded its first liquefied natural gas cargoes after the widening conflict in the Middle East forced it to halt fuel production and declare an unprecedented force majeure to buyers.

European natural gas prices resumed this week’s rally as the escalating conflict in the Middle East amplified uncertainty about disruptions to energy flows.

European gas’s biggest rally in four years came to an abrupt halt as traders weighed US moves in the Middle East that could potentially ease pressure on the market.

European natural gas prices spiked to the highest since 2023 amid uncertainty over how long the shutdown at the world’s largest LNG export plant in Qatar will weigh on global energy supplies.

Qatar shut LNG production at the world’s largest export facility after it was targeted in an Iranian drone attack, sending European gas prices surging as much as 54%.

European natural gas surged after fighting across the Middle East raised fears of a major disruption to global energy supplies, with traders watching how long ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will remain halted.

Natural gas exports from the UK to continental Europe in February rose to the highest level for this time of year since 2023, as the country benefited from ample supply and milder weather.

European natural gas futures hit a five-week low as the weather outlook shifted milder, potentially easing strains on rapidly depleting fuel inventories.

Europe’s reliance on its two biggest providers of LNG surged to a record last month, stoking concern that the region is still failing to diversify.

Diversifying away from American LNG imports won’t be easy

European natural gas headed for its biggest monthly gain in at least two years after cold spells and a rapid depletion of fuel inventories upended market sentiment.

Europe is leaning more heavily on gas reserves this winter, with this month’s withdrawals running at the fastest pace in five years amid unusually cold weather.

European power and natural gas markets are set to undergo a major overhaul amid plans to extend trading hours and align them with other global commodities.

European natural gas prices are heading for a sharp annual drop despite unusually low inventories, a sign of how dramatically the market has changed since the energy crisis as a wave of LNG reshapes supply expectations.

European natural gas futures rose from a 20-month low as traders weighed the impact of slowing LNG flows on the region’s supply balance.

Italy plans an to shave around €1.6 billion ($1.9 billion) off consumers’ energy bills by curbing wholesale prices for natural gas, despite concern about the legality and effectiveness of such a measure.

As Europe moves away from Russian gas for good, Poland is aiming to become the main entry point for global LNG into Central and Eastern Europe — a shift that could reshape fuel flows across the region and give its neighbors a more stable alternative to pipeline imports.