Qatar "Cut Off Supply"! European Natural Gas Surges 40% - List of Latest High-Growth Potential Stocks Released

The situation in the Middle East continues to escalate, causing energy asset prices such as oil and natural gas to surge.

According to CCTV News, late on March 2 local time, an advisor to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed, and Iran will target all ships attempting to pass through the Strait. Currently, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has not issued an official statement.

Qatar Energy suspends LNG production

On March 2, Qatar Energy, the world’s largest natural gas producer, announced that its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities were forced to shut down due to a military attack.

Qatar Energy stated that its facilities at Ras Laffan, the world’s largest LNG export hub, were attacked by drones, damaging a power plant water tank and another energy facility. The company immediately halted LNG production. No specific timeline for resumption was provided.

Data shows that Qatar’s LNG exports are about 82.2 million tons in 2025, accounting for roughly 20% of global LNG exports, with nearly 80% flowing to Northeast Asia, including China, Japan, and South Korea, which are key importers.

Meanwhile, real-time data from the international oil tanker traffic monitoring system shows that vessel speeds around the Strait of Hormuz have generally dropped to zero, with many ships halting to avoid danger.

The turbulent situation, combined with the near halt of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, has sharply increased concerns over global energy supply disruptions. The European natural gas benchmark—Dutch near-month futures—rose by 40.92%. Crude oil prices also surged significantly.

Goldman Sachs: A one-month blockade could double European gas prices

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical “choke point” for global energy transportation.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2024, approximately 20 million barrels of oil are traded daily through the Strait of Hormuz, representing over a quarter of global maritime oil trade; about 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas trade also passes through this strait, mainly heading to Asian markets.

Major investment bank Goldman Sachs warned that if LNG supplies through the Strait of Hormuz are cut off for a month, European natural gas prices could surge by 130%, and the freight rates for super-large oil tankers from the Middle East to China would further increase.

The Chief Analyst at Global Risk Management stated that Europe’s natural gas market is actually more sensitive to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz than the oil market. Consulting firm ICIS predicts that if Qatar’s long-term LNG contracts to Europe are lost, Europe’s natural gas supply could face a shortfall of about 14% over the next three months.

Another international energy agency gas analyst said that based on the June 2025 Israel-Palestine conflict experience, even if the conflict ends in the short term, the physical clearance of mines in the shipping lanes and the restoration of shipping capacity could take more than half a month.

Latest insights from Galaxy Futures indicate that the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz prevents crude oil and natural gas shipping, disrupting global natural gas supplies. With winter not fully over, prices are expected to rise. If Qatar’s natural gas exports are hindered, the overall fundamentals will tighten, especially impacting Asia. The missing Middle Eastern supply will lead to competition between Europe and Asia for cargoes, causing prices to rise rapidly.

Multiple concept stocks are expected to see high growth

The Oriental Fortune Concept Sector shows that currently, there are over 100 natural gas concept stocks in the A-share market. Besides the “Three Big Oil” companies, COSCO Shipping, Jereh Group, and others each have a market cap exceeding 100 billion yuan. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), China International Marine Containers (CIMC), China National Oil & Gas Pipeline Network (CNPC), and Shanghai Electric each have a market value above 60 billion yuan.

Since 2026, the natural gas concept sector has performed strongly, with over 90% of stocks rising. Three stocks have doubled in value, led by Tongyuan Petroleum, which surged 227.54%. Potential Hengxin and Intercontinental Oil & Gas have also doubled, with COSCO Shipping up 98.89%. Xinjin Power, Chunhui Zhikong, Jereh Group, and Zhongman Petroleum have all increased by over 70% in the same period.

Regarding future growth potential, based on unanimous forecasts from three or more institutions, 12 natural gas concept stocks are expected to see net profit growth of over 20% this year. Among them, First Hua Gas is predicted to nearly double its net profit attributable to shareholders in 2026, and Jin Hong Gas is also expected to grow about 100%. Guanghui Energy, Xuefeng Technology, and Zhongman Petroleum are all forecasted to have net profit increases of over 30%.

(Source: Oriental Fortune Research Center)