The U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, and one relatively obscure U.S. company seems ready to reap the benefits of a surge in global natural-gas prices following the U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran and the widening conflict in the Middle East.

Disruption to LNG supplies could dent European growth and harm reindustrialization ambitions.

The widening war in the Middle East is driving up spot natural gas prices in Europe and Asia. While it highlights the potential for Canada to play a greater role as a stable global supplier, one economist says it's not likely to change much in the near term.

ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas ETF (NYSEARCA:BOIL) gives traders amplified exposure to natural gas price swings – specifically, 2x the daily return of the Bloomberg Natural Gas Subindex. That amplification cuts both ways: BOIL has fallen roughly 80% over the past year.

Early gains in U.S. natural gas futures appear related to European and Asian physical buyers hedging in U.S. markets, according to Tradition Energy.

The natural gas market has seen a bit of upward pressure, perhaps as a result of Qatar stopping production of natural gas, and the idea that Europe will have to import gas from the USA.

Jack Miller shows his gas bills in Matthews on Thursday. Miller is among a number of customers who say their recent bills have been hundreds of dollars higher than expected. (KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH/Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.