QatarEnergy to supply 26 of 40 LNG cargoes in 2027 as government finalises schedule only till March

Bangladesh's liquefied natural gas (LNG) import plans for 2027 are changing amid conflict in the Middle East and uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Of the 40 LNG cargoes contracted for next year, QatarEnergy will supply 26 — that is, the company has committed to supplying 65 percent of the contracted gas.

However, with uncertainty over gas supplies from other suppliers under long-term contracts, the government has decided for now to finalise the import schedule only until next March.

Officials said the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase has instructed Petrobangla to prepare a supply schedule up to March instead of finalising the import plan for the whole year.

The flexible plan has been adopted in the hope that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could return to normal if the United States and Iran reach an understanding. That would leave room to procure additional cargoes if the supply situation improves.

According to Petrobangla, Bangladesh initially planned to import about 115 LNG cargoes in 2027, of which 103 were to come under long-term and short-term contracts. But of the 128 cargoes contracted in total, only 71 had been confirmed by the time of reporting.

QatarEnergy Trading LLC, an affiliate of QatarEnergy, has indicated it expects to supply 18 cargoes against 24 contracted. Together, the two companies will supply 44 cargoes from Qatar.

On the other hand, Oman's state-owned OQ Trading (OQT), which was supposed to supply 32 cargoes, had not confirmed a single one by the time of reporting. It proposed supplying 16 cargoes, on condition that prices be set on the Japan-Korea Marker (JKM) basis instead of the existing Brent-indexed pricing. Petrobangla rejected the proposal and urged the company to follow the terms of the contract.

Gunvor USA is also expected to supply six cargoes in 2027, and France's TotalEnergies 12. Of the 14 cargoes scheduled from the US-based Excelerate Energy, nine have been confirmed.

The shortfall in long-term contract supplies is forcing Bangladesh to buy LNG from the spot market at higher prices, adding to the government's financial pressure. In the first three months of the 2026-27 fiscal year alone, Tk 10,300 crore was spent on subsidies in the LNG sector.

Petrobangla will redetermine the import plan later, taking into account the supply situation and movements in the international market.