FACTBOX-US-Israeli war with Iran causes major oil, gas disruptions

March 13 (Reuters) - The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran's attacks on Gulf neighbours have disrupted oil and natural gas exports from the Middle East and forced production stoppages.

Fighting has halted shipments via the world's most important oil artery, the Strait of Hormuz, which handles 20% of global oil and LNG supply. Total oil output cuts in the Middle East are estimated at 7 million to 10 million barrels per day or 7% to 10% of global demand.

The Paris-based International Energy Agency recommended on Wednesday the release of 400 million barrels from global oil reserves, the largest such action in its history. Washington temporarily relaxed sanctions on Russian crude.

Here are key energy disruptions so far:

PRODUCTION SHUTDOWNS

• Saudi Arabia: Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia has cut oil production by 2 million bpd to around 8 million bpd after reducing output from two major offshore fields, sources told Reuters. Last week, it suspended output at its 550,000-bpd Ras Tanura refinery and began rerouting crude loadings from eastern ports to Yanbu on the Red Sea.

• French oil major TotalEnergies TTEF.PA told investors on March 12 it had lost 15% of its upstream output across the Middle East due to production shutdowns, including in Qatar, Iraq and offshore UAE. It confirmed for the first time output cuts from the UAE's offshore fields.

• UAE: Abu Dhabi state oil company ADNOC has shut the 922,000-bpd Ruwais refinery after a drone strike caused a fire. A separate fire also broke out at the UAE's Fujairah port, a key global oil storage and bunkering hub.

• Kuwait force majeure: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation began cutting oil output and declared force majeure on March 7.

• Iraq: Production from Iraq's main southern oilfields has fallen by 70% to just 1.3 million bpd from 4.3 million, sources said on March 8. In Iraq's Kurdistan, which exported some 200,000 bpd to Turkey in February, several companies have stopped output.

• Qatar: Qatar halted operations at its LNG facilities on March 2, affecting some of the world's largest plants and a source that supplies about 20% of global LNG. It declared force majeure on LNG shipments on March 4.

• Bahrain: Bapco Energies on Monday declared force majeure on its group operations after an attack on its 380,000-bpd Sitra refinery, which mainly buys Saudi crude.

• Iran: Israeli strikes have hit multiple fuel depots and Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export outlet, although the extent of damage was not clear.

• Refining capacity: Consultants IIR said Middle East refiners have slashed 1.9 million bpd of crude refining capacity as a direct result of the war.

SHIPPING

• Strait of Hormuz: Shipping through the narrow strait has come to a standstill since the war began. Iran declared it closed on March 2, threatening to fire on vessels attempting to sail through and warned global markets to prepare for oil at $200 a barrel.

• Ship attacks: About a dozen ships have been attacked in recent days, including three on March 11, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations. Only a few tankers managed to transit the waterways.

• U.S. assurances: President Donald Trump has said repeatedly the U.S. Navy could escort tankers through the strait, but the Navy has so far declined industry's requests, citing excessive risk, sources familiar with the matter said.

• War insurance: Major marine insurers are cancelling war-risk coverage for vessels operating in Iranian, Gulf and adjacent waters.

• U.S. assistance: Trump has directed the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide political‑risk insurance and financial guarantees for Gulf shipping, though shipowners and analysts doubt this will be enough.

• Bunker costs: some ships are struggling to refuel at key ports in Asia as bunker costs soar, with premiums hitting record highs, industry sources said.

IMPACT ON CONSUMERS

• Refineries: Asian refineries have cut runs or declared force majeure due to the shortages of feedstocks such as naphtha, essential for steam crackers.

• India: On March 11, India urged consumers not to panic about gas supplies and conserve energy, as the world's second-largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas struggles to meet domestic demand.

• South Korea: Seoul will cap domestic fuel prices to curb price spikes and discourage panic buying.

• Bangladesh: The country will close universities from Monday and bring forward Eid al-Fitr holidays to conserve electricity.

• Vietnam: The government plans to suspend import tariffs on fuels until the end of April to ensure sufficient supply.

• EU: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was considering capping gas prices to help consumers.

• TotalEnergies said on March 12 it would cap the price of petrol at its service stations in mainland France as a result of "exceptional market volatility."