Port of Corpus Christi says LNG volumes hit record in 2023

The US Port of Corpus Christi in Texas set a new record in annual tonnage during 2023, including for liquefied natural gas (LNG) volumes.

According to a statement released on Thursday, more than 200 million tons of goods moved in 2023 through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel for the first time in its history.

The 203 million tons moved in 2023 was an 8.1 percent increase from the prior year, and the new high mark primarily can be attributed to a jump in crude oil exports to 126.1 million tons in 2023, a 12.5 percent increase compared to 2022.

Moreover, the port also saw a nearly 13.5 percent increase in agricultural commodities to a little over 2.2 million tons, as well as a slight increase in refined products to 42.5 million tons.

A record volume of LNG – 16.3 million tons – moved through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel in 2023, the port said.

LNG volumes rose 81.2 percent in 2021, reaching 15.7 million tons. The port previously said that LNG volumes increased 3.5 percent in 2022 compared to the year before.

Corpus Christi expansion

These volumes will grow in the future as Cheniere’s Corpus Christi liquefaction facility is currently undergoing a capacity expansion.

The Corpus Christi terminal currently consists of three operational trains with each having a capacity of about 5 million tonnes per annum.

Cheniere completed the first train in February 2019 followed by the second in August the same year, while Bechtel handed over operational control of the third train in March 2021.

In June 2022, Cheniere took a final investment decision on the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project worth about $8 billion, and Bechtel officially started construction on the project in October the same year.

The project includes building seven midscale trains, each with an expected liquefaction capacity of about 1.49 mtpa.

Cheniere’s CEO Jack Fusco said in August last year that the company is expecting to complete the expansion phase ahead of schedule.

He said in November that construction on Corpus Christi Stage 3 “continues to progress ahead of plan, and I am optimistic first LNG production from train 1 will occur by the end of 2024.”

Cheniere’s unit Corpus Christi Liquefaction said in the November construction report filed with the US FERC that overall project completion for the Stage 3 project was 48.8 percent.

Most Popular

McDermott bags Monkey Island LNG gig

Houston-based McDermott has secured a contract from Monkey Island LNG for its planned natural gas liquefaction facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Gazprom supplying gas from Kaliningrad FSRU

Gas giant Gazprom has completed tests at its 174,000-cbm FSRU Marshal Vasilevskiy off Russia's Kaliningrad, located between Lithuania and Poland. The firm said...

GTT develops new LNG fuel tank

French LNG containment giant GTT has developed a new cubic-shaped LNG fuel tank for commercial vessels, with a particular focus on LNG-fueled container vessels.

More News Like This

Cheniere clinches Botas LNG supply deal

Turkiye’s state-owned natural gas and LNG firm Botas has signed a deal to buy liquefied natural gas from US LNG exporting giant Cheniere. Botas also signed deals with SEFE, Equinor, and jera.

Cheniere’s Corpus Christi expansion project almost 88 percent complete

The Stage 3 expansion project at Cheniere’s Corpus Christi LNG export plant in Texas is almost 88 percent complete, while Cheniere has also started site preparation activities for two more midscale trains.

Trafigura, Kogas seal long-term US LNG supply deal

LNG trader Trafigura has signed a long-term deal to supply US LNG to South Korean importer Kogas.

Cheniere nears first LNG at third Corpus Christi expansion train

US LNG exporter Cheniere is nearing the start of LNG production at the third train of the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project in Texas as part of the commissioning phase.