Hormuz Disruption Drives US LNG Export Surge; China Positions Beyond Crisis

US LNG exports to Asia surged in April 2026 after coordinated US-Israeli strikes in late February disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, stripping roughly 20% of global LNG supply from the market since early March. Prices spiked across Asia and Europe, and nearly a quarter of all American cargoes flowed into the supply gap. Over $100 billion in private investment is pouring into US liquefaction plants and terminals, targeting 220 MTPA of export capacity within five years. Streamlined permitting and a clear energy-dominance agenda have strengthened Washington’s position with global buyers seeking reliability. China, however, has absorbed the shock with greater resilience. Two decades of investment in domestic generation, storage, and distribution have buffered its economy, building a perception of strategic foresight among governments scrambling to explain surging energy bills. Analysts warn that sustained disruption may accelerate global efforts to diversify away from single-chokepoint reliance, potentially eroding US structural advantage once the crisis abates. Long-term supply relationships and diplomacy, not just emergency shipments, will determine whether American dominance endures beyond the current windfall.