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Flares and an LNG carrier at the Ras Laffan LNG terminal, Qatar

Events · Middle East

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Strait of Hormuz disruption

The conflict that closed the Strait of Hormuz at the end of February 2026 cut oil and LNG transit out of the Gulf.

31 articles · Updated 5 October 2026 · From late February 2026, ongoing

Flares and an LNG carrier at the Ras Laffan LNG terminal, Qatar. Photo: Matthew Smith, CC BY 2.0.

Why it matters

Around 20 million barrels a day of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict, along with Qatar's LNG exports. When transit collapsed, importers from Europe to South Asia drew on emergency stocks, rationed gas and switched fuels, and prices across oil, gas and power moved together.

Key numbers

  • 20 million b/dOil flows through Hormuz before the conflict
  • 400 million barrelsIEA collective emergency stock release
  • 172.2 million barrelsUS share of the IEA release

Figures as quoted in our articles on this event.

Key developments

  1. Partial reopening of the strait and a rebound in Gulf exports. Read our analysis

  2. IEA members agree to make 400 million barrels of emergency oil stocks available. Read our analysis

  3. Conflict closes the Strait of Hormuz to most tanker traffic. Read our analysis

Our coverage 31 articles

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