Port of Corpus Christi in Texas Sets Record for LNG Deliveries

---

Written by Daniel Graeber for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

---

Summary

The Port of Corpus Christi said its customers were doing their part to ensure deliveries of LNG in response to the supply-side risks stemming from war in the Middle East. Crude oil exports, however, only just rebounded.

---

A 33% Increase in LNG at the Port

The amount of feed gas supporting U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas was close to record levels on Thursday, levels that authorities at the Port of Corpus Christi said led to a new high in quarterly deliveries.

IIR Energy in its NATGAS Today report for Thursday put the total amount of feed gas running to terminals for exports as liquefied natural gas (LNG) at 19 billion cubic feet, close to a record.

Delivery capacity improved last year with the start of the Plaquemines facility in Louisiana and the volume increased further this year with the start of the Golden Pass export terminal near Port Arthur, Texas.

According to Industrial Info Resources data, the Plaquemines and Golden Pass facilities play a key role in supporting LNG exports.

On Wednesday, authorities at the Port of Corpus Christi said its customers moved 54.5 million tons of commodities through its shipping channel during the first quarter, its highest ever. Volumes were supported in large part by deliveries of LNG at the port, which increased 33% from year-ago levels over the three-month period ending March 31.

The United States is already the world leader in exports of LNG, helping to support global energy security at least since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 saw Russian volumes sidelined by sanctions.

Retaliatory airstrikes from Iran in response to a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive sidelined production from Qatar, one of the largest exporters of LNG in the world.

"The dramatically higher shipment levels seen since the start of the conflict in Iran are a testament to our customers' ability to maximize their operations and quickly respond to changing market conditions," said Kent Britton, the chief executive officer for the port.

Cheniere Energy is planning to increase the capacity for feedstock at its Corpus Christi LNG export plant by around 3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). Continuing the high performance will be imperative for a domestic LNG sector that's expected to see volumes expand by more than 8% by next year.

U.S. President Donald Trump singled out LNG in one of his first moves on his return to the White House last year for his second, non-consecutive term. From Alaska to Gulf Coast facilities, the president sees LNG as an integral part of his pursuit of global energy dominance.

By the Numbers

• 33% increase in LNG shipments at the Port of Corpus Christi
• 36.8% in refined product deliveries for just March alone

Story Differs for Crude Oil

It's another story for crude oil, however. Port authorities said crude oil shipments during the first quarter were down 5% from the same period last year.

"That decline in crude oil shipments was more pronounced prior to the conflict in Iran due to a higher level of domestic refinery usage and high export freight rates but has since rebounded significantly," the port authority explained.

For just March, the port said it saw crude oil shipments increase month-on-month by 2%, while refined products saw a 36.8% improvement.

"Crude oil exports exceeded 2.4 million barrels per day in March 2026, one of the highest monthly levels seen in this market," the port said.

Corpus Christi is reeling from a historic drought, with the capacity at two of its main reservoirs dropping to just 8.4% by early April.

Key Takeaways

• LNG lifted Corpus Christi port volumes to new highs.
• Authorities said this helped address war-related shortages.

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).