A powerful cyclone hit Australia, forcing production cuts and evacuations at Chevron’s Wheatstone and Gorgon LNG facilities off Western Australia, which disrupted about 5% of global LNG supply.

Together, Wheatstone and Gorgon account for roughly five percent of global LNG, intensifying supply concerns as the plants shut down.

Analysts have lifted LNG price forecasts for the rest of the year, citing market strain from the disruption.

The disruption occurs against a backdrop of broader Middle East tensions, with Iran–Israel-US hostilities and tanker routing around the Strait of Hormuz contributing to tighter global energy markets.

Attacks on Qatar’s Ras Laffan hub and regional conflict have already tightened the LNG price environment, with one-off Australian cargoes fetching elevated prices near the high end of the market.

The report emphasizes that Australian disruptions fit into a wider pattern of global LNG supply tensions linked to geopolitical events in the Middle East and around Ras Laffan.

Australia’s Resources Minister said the country should be better insulated from price shocks thanks to stricter export commitments for the local market, while acknowledging potential ripple effects.

In the UAE, Das Island’s export facility partially resumed after a missile attack, highlighting how disruptions in major LNG exporters impact global buyers, including China and India.

Woodside continued production at Macedon and Pluto, with North West Shelf output expected to resume as workers return to offshore facilities.

Western Australia’s Energy Minister stressed domestic gas supply remained uninterrupted and that plants are seasoned at cyclone management, with no damage reported yet.

Santos’ Darwin LNG was already offline due to upgrades, independent of the cyclone, adding to domestic supply considerations.

Woodside demobilised workers from North West Shelf platforms feeding Karratha Gas Plant, further reducing Australian LNG output during the disruption.