Less than a month after startup, Enterprise Products (EPD) is already testing the limits of the expanded Neches River export terminal near Beaumont, TX.
Neches River exported 329 Mb/d of ethane during the week ending June 12, according to Vortexa ship-tracking data, exceeding the terminal’s nameplate capacity of 300 Mb/d following a recent expansion.
The Phase 2 expansion entered service in May, aligning with EPD’s original target for a 1H26 startup. The project adds 180 Mb/d of flexible export capacity that can swing between ethane and LPG service, depending on market dynamics. Neches River can now export up to 360 Mb/d of propane or 300 Mb/d of ethane.
The timing of the ramp is notable. Enterprise is fully contracted on ethane, according to its 2025 10-K. However, EPD executives previously said the Phase 2 expansion would initially focus on propane exports, with ethane shipments to climb by year-end. Instead, ethane volumes have already approached the limits of the terminal’s expanded capacity only weeks after startup.
The performance highlights the strength of global demand for US ethane, with buyers prepared to utilize the additional capacity immediately upon startup. The rapid ramp reinforces the view that export infrastructure has been the primary bottleneck to further growth in US ethane exports.
See East Daley Analytics’ NGL Hub Model for more on the ethane market outlook. The strong showing at Neches River could support plans by other midstream companies to expand existing export facilities or construct new infrastructure to alleviate export constraints. – Sam Chen Tickers: EPD.
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