Rabobank has updated its price forecasts for TTF Natural Gas and the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) higher for the third and fourth quarters of 2026. This revision reflects an ongoing structurally tight liquefied natural gas (LNG) market and increased export losses from Qatar, triggered by renewed disruptions in the Hormuz Strait, according to FX Street.
The sustained supply constraints and geopolitical challenges in the Gulf region have pressured LNG availability, contributing to Rabobank's more bullish outlook on prices later in 2026. This adjustment signals that market tightness is expected to persist well into the second half of the year.
For Japanese investors and traders, these developments underline continued volatility and potential upward pressure on LNG-related energy costs, impacting both FX and equity markets sensitive to energy price shifts.