Asia's LNG imports fell 4.3% to 21.12 million tonnes in March, the lowest level in seven years, as the Strait of Hormuz closed and Qatar declared force majeure on its LNG contracts. The decline follows the Iranian missile strikes that damaged Qatar's LNG infrastructure, forcing the state firm to quantify losses and halt deliveries. The closure of the Strait has stranded all Qatari and UAE supply, tightening the global LNG market. GCEF reported that imports were 21.12 million tonnes, down 4.3% from a year earlier. The report notes that over 80% of LNG transiting the Strait was destined for Asian markets before the conflict. China, India and Pakistan led the drop, while Thailand and Taiwan offset the loss with imports from Brunei, Canada and the U.S. GCEF said the market braced for a tightening supply squeeze, noting that the largest decline in imports had hit a seven-year low. It added that the closure of the Strait had stranded all Qatari and UAE LNG, forcing QatarEnergy to declare force majeure. Since the start of the Middle East war, China has been reselling record volumes of LNG to other Asian buyers as its own demand has been tepid and stocks and gas supplies sufficient. The well-supplied market in China has lowered spot LNG demand. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com