Qatar removed from Fitch’s negative watch list as risks to LNG sites ease

The global ratings agency has also maintained the country’s sovereign rating at AA.

QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar [File: Reuters]

Fitch Ratings has removed Qatar from “Rating Watch Negative” while maintaining its sovereign rating at AA amid the US-Israel war on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz blockade.

The global ratings agency announced the decision on Friday, citing reduced risks to the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities since March.

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The agency, however, kept a negative outlook on the rating, citing ongoing risks surrounding the movement of gas exports through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.

“The impact of the war on the credit profile will take longer to discern,” the agency said in a statement.

Qatar, one of the world’s largest gas exporters, continues to face export disruptions and shortages caused by damaged energy facilities during the war on Iran, which began six months ago.

Earlier this year, credit agencies S&P and Moody’s also affirmed Qatar’s ratings, noting that the country’s sizeable financial cushion helps protect it from the economic impact of the war.

全球评级机构也维持了该国的主权信用评级为AA。

卡塔尔能源公司位于卡塔尔拉斯拉凡工业城的液化天然气（LNG）生产设施 [图片来源：路透社]

在美国和以色列对伊朗发动战争以及霍尔木兹海峡封锁期间，惠誉评级将卡塔尔从“负面评级观察名单”中移除，同时维持其AA主权评级。

全球评级机构于周五宣布了这一决定，理由是自 3 月以来该国液化天然气 (LNG) 设施的风险有所降低。

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然而，该机构维持了对该评级的负面展望，理由是天然气出口通过被封锁的霍尔木兹海峡仍然存在风险。

该机构在一份声明中表示：“战争对信用状况的影响需要更长时间才能显现。”

卡塔尔是世界最大的天然气出口国之一，由于六个月前开始的对伊战争期间能源设施遭到破坏，该国持续面临出口中断和短缺的问题。

今年早些时候，信用评级机构标准普尔和穆迪也确认了卡塔尔的评级，并指出该国雄厚的财政实力有助于保护其免受战争带来的经济影响。