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Kuwait's LNG imports climb to highest level since start of Iran war

The country's domestic gas production has fallen drastically since the beginning of the US-Israel-Iran war in February.

The Al-Riqqa oil tanker (L) and Al-Yarmouk oil tankers sail in the Arabian Gulf waters, off the coast of Kuwait City on June 27, 2026.
The Al-Riqqa oil tanker (L) and 'Al-Yarmouk' oil tankers sail in the Arabian Gulf waters, off the coast of Kuwait City on June 27, 2026. — YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP via Getty Images

Kuwait’s liquefied natural gas imports rose for the second consecutive month in July, reaching their highest monthly level since before the US-Israel-Iran war disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Kuwait imported approximately 803,000 tons of LNG in July, compared to 684,000 tons in June, a monthly increase of 17%, according to the Washington-based Energy Research Unit (ERU).

However, imports were still 3% lower than they were in July 2025, when they reached 830,000 tons.

Why it matters: Kuwait’s LNG imports in July were the highest they have been since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war on Feb. 28. In response to Israel and the United States firing missiles at Iran, the Islamic Republic began attacking Israel, neighboring Gulf countries and ships in the Strait of Hormuz, choking traffic in the critical waterway. Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz carried around a fifth of all global oil and LNG cargoes, and the disruption to the choke point has caused a global energy shock.

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