US LNG export plant gas flows set to hit 16-week low despite expected return of Golden Pass

• Golden Pass plant is returning to partial operations at 0.3 bcfd after a six-day shutdown, with one of three planned liquefaction trains operational and the others expected online in 2026-2027
• Cheniere's Corpus Christi plant hit near-record flows of 2.56 bcfd as new Stage 3 trains undergo testing, with full 3.9 bcfd capacity expected by year-end
• Sabine Pass and Freeport LNG experienced sharp declines to 16-week lows of 3.4 bcfd and 0.6 bcfd respectively, down from 4.4 bcfd and 1.2 bcfd the previous day

Summary

U.S. LNG export plant gas flows are set to drop to a 16-week low of 15.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) on Tuesday, May 19, down from 16.3 bcfd Monday, despite the partial return of QatarEnergy/Exxon Mobil's Golden Pass facility in Texas.

Key Figures:

• Average May flows: 16.9 bcfd, down from April's record 18.8 bcfd
• Lowest level since January 27
• One bcf supplies approximately 5 million U.S. homes daily

Plant-Specific Developments:

Golden Pass is expected to resume partial operations at 0.3 bcfd after six days offline. The facility exported its first LNG cargo in late April and currently operates one 0.8-bcfd liquefaction train, with two additional trains expected online in 2026-2027.

Cheniere Energy's Corpus Christi plant posted near-record flows of 2.56 bcfd, approaching its late-January high of 2.64 bcfd. Capacity will reach 3.9 bcfd once Stage 3 trains enter service by year-end.

Declining operations:

• Cheniere's Sabine Pass (4.5 bcfd capacity): dropped to 3.4 bcfd from 4.4 bcfd
• Freeport LNG (2.4 bcfd capacity): fell to 0.6 bcfd from 1.2 bcfd

Market Context:

The declines stem from spring maintenance schedules across multiple facilities. The U.S. became the world's largest LNG exporter in 2023, surpassing Australia and Qatar, with American gas playing a crucial role in global energy security amid supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions.