The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is affecting global energy trade flows and could create export opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago, even as domestic risks remain, according to an April 9 note from the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago.
Iran announced the closure of the Strait on March 2, 2026. The World Trade Organization’s Strait of Hormuz Trade Tracker shows outbound traffic from the Persian Gulf falling to “almost a complete halt,” with breaks in crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and fertilizer-related shipments at the end of February.
The Chamber stated that the strait remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with the disruption now visible in physical commodity flows.
For Trinidad and Tobago, the Chamber said the immediate attraction is on the export side. It noted that the country’s gas-based industrial sector is built around LNG and petrochemicals, which generate substantial revenue and foreign exchange.
The Chamber stated that “when one of the world’s most important LNG corridors is disrupted, alternative suppliers become more strategically relevant.”
It said the disruption creates an opening for existing LNG exports to become more valuable in a tighter market, though it does not guarantee higher volumes.
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The Chamber noted that supply constraints could limit the upside. Atlantic LNG will remove Train 1 from operations this year due to gas shortages and inefficiency, while Train 4 is scheduled for a 45 to 50-day shutdown for maintenance in May and June.
The Chamber said the disruption is also unfolding within a wider global shock, with governments implementing measures to manage supply, demand, and price pressures.
It stated that Trinidad and Tobago remains exposed on the import side. The country imported US$1.43 billion of refined petroleum in 2024, with volumes continuing through state company Paria.
The Chamber stated that higher oil prices, freight costs, and shipping disruptions could increase domestic fuel and transport costs.
