Hormuz LNG strikes widen force majeure, hitting Italian industry

A second liquefied natural gas tanker has been struck in the Strait of Hormuz within a month, according to Euronews, as the GasLog Shanghai was hit while leaving the waterway. Italian utility Edison said QatarEnergy had extended force majeure on a further three cargoes, bringing the total affected to 24 shipments through September.

The strikes mark a widening disruption to one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, with immediate consequences for European importers. For Italy, which relies on LNG for a significant share of its gas supply, the extended force majeure tightens an already strained energy market ahead of the winter heating season.

The disruption follows the earlier strike on the Al Rekayyat in the same area, and the latest incident suggests the threat to shipping in the strait is not isolated. Euronews reported that the GasLog Shanghai was struck while leaving the Strait of Hormuz, indicating the risk extends to vessels departing as well as entering the waterway.

For Piemonte, Italy's industrial heartland and home to the country's automotive and aerospace engineering sectors, energy costs are a decisive factor in manufacturing competitiveness. The region's factories, including those tied to the Stellantis supply chain, are heavy consumers of gas for industrial processes, and any sustained rise in energy prices feeds directly into production costs.

The extended force majeure through September means Italian utilities and industrial buyers must source alternative supplies or absorb higher spot prices. Euronews noted that the total affected shipments now stand at 24, a figure that underscores the scale of the disruption rather than a brief interruption.

The Italian government has not yet announced specific measures to cushion the impact on industry, but the country's energy regulator and grid operator are likely to monitor the situation closely. For manufacturers in Turin and the surrounding province, the immediate concern is whether the disruption pushes European gas prices higher as winter approaches and storage levels are drawn down.

The strikes also raise broader questions about the security of energy supplies to Europe, a theme that has dominated policy discussions since the start of the Ukraine war. For Italian industry, the practical effect is a reminder of the fragility of global energy logistics and the premium placed on diversification away from chokepoint-dependent routes.