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17 October 2025

North American LNG Export Capacity Surges To Record Highs

Major investments in the US, Canada, and Mexico are set to more than double North America’s LNG export capacity by 2029, reshaping the global energy landscape.

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry in North America is surging into uncharted territory, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico all racing to expand their export capacities at a record pace. On October 17, 2025, NextDecade Corp. announced a final investment decision (FID) on the fifth train at its Rio Grande LNG project in South Texas, a move that underscores the region’s growing role in the global energy market and pushes U.S. LNG export development into record-breaking territory, according to Natural Gas Intelligence.

This latest sanction by NextDecade marks the second expansion at the Rio Grande facility, which is currently under construction. The decision is not just a milestone for the company, but also for the broader North American LNG sector. With this expansion, North American LNG export capacity is now set to reach a staggering 30 million tonnes per year, as highlighted by Natural Gas Intelligence. In terms of global investment, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year, with worldwide LNG investments expected to top $70 billion.

The United States, already the world’s largest LNG exporter, is at the forefront of this boom. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Liquefaction Capacity File and recent trade press reports, U.S. exporters have announced plans to more than double the country’s liquefaction capacity between 2025 and 2029. That’s an estimated increase of 13.9 billion cubic feet per day (ft3/d) in just four years, building on the current 15.4 billion ft3/d of capacity as of early 2025.

If all projects under construction go as planned, North American LNG export capacity is projected to soar from 11.4 billion ft3/d at the start of 2024 to 28.7 billion ft3/d by 2029. Canada and Mexico are both playing their part, with Canada planning to add 2.5 billion ft3/d and Mexico 0.6 billion ft3/d of capacity in the same period. According to the International Energy Agency, these North American additions will account for over half of all new global LNG export capacity through 2029.

Much of this action is concentrated along the U.S. Gulf Coast, already the Atlantic Basin’s largest hub for LNG exports. To keep these terminals supplied, new pipelines are being built to transport natural gas from production areas. But it’s not all smooth sailing—pipeline construction delays remain a significant supply risk for new terminals, as noted in EIA’s reports.

The list of U.S. projects reaching FID and moving into construction is impressive. As of October 17, 2025, five major LNG export projects are underway: Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 (1.6 billion ft3/d), Rio Grande LNG (2.1 billion ft3/d), Woodside Louisiana LNG (2.2 billion ft3/d), Golden Pass LNG (2.1 billion ft3/d), and CP2 Phase 1 (2.0 billion ft3/d). These projects are expected to come online between 2025 and 2029, further cementing the U.S. as a global LNG powerhouse.

Recent milestones have also been reached at other terminals. Plaquemines LNG Phase 1 shipped its first cargo in December 2024, while Plaquemines LNG Phase 2 and Corpus Christi Stage III began shipping cargoes earlier in 2025, though they have not yet commenced full commercial operations as of October 17, 2025.

Canada, meanwhile, has made history with its own LNG developments. On July 1, 2025, LNG Canada—the nation’s first LNG export terminal—shipped its first cargo from Train 1, following its initial LNG production in late June. The facility, located in British Columbia, boasts two liquefaction trains with a combined capacity of 1.84 billion ft3/d and is expected to reach full capacity in 2026. There’s more on the horizon: a proposed second phase would double the export capacity to 3.68 billion ft3/d and expand the terminal to four trains, though that expansion is expected after 2029, according to the Canada Energy Regulator.

Canada’s new LNG capacity is located on the west coast, which offers a strategic advantage—shipping times to Asian markets are slashed by 50% compared to exports from the U.S. Gulf Coast. The feedgas for these projects is sourced from the Montney Formation in Alberta and British Columbia, a prolific natural gas region.

Two other Canadian projects are also underway. Woodfibre LNG, with an export capacity of 0.3 billion ft3/d, is expected to start shipments in 2027. Cedar LNG, a floating project with a capacity of 0.4 billion ft3/d, reached FID in June 2024 and is targeting first exports in 2028.

Mexico is joining the LNG race as well, constructing two export projects with a combined capacity of 0.6 billion ft3/d: the Fast LNG Altamira FLNG2 floating vessel (0.2 billion ft3/d) off the east coast and Energía Costa Azul (0.4 billion ft3/d) on the west coast. Notably, Mexico’s first LNG export cargo was produced aboard Fast LNG Altamira FLNG1 in August 2024. The feedgas for these projects is supplied via the Sur de Texas-Tuxpan pipeline, which transports U.S. natural gas across the border.

Looking ahead, the region’s LNG ambitions are not without challenges. While the investment and construction boom is undeniable, the development of supporting infrastructure—particularly pipelines—remains a potential bottleneck. Any delays could ripple through the supply chain, affecting the timelines for new terminals and the overall capacity growth.

Still, the numbers paint a clear picture of an industry in overdrive. With global LNG investments in 2025 set to exceed $70 billion, the stakes are high for both producers and consumers. The North American surge is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping global energy flows for years to come, especially as demand for cleaner-burning fuels rises in Asia and Europe.

In sum, the LNG landscape of North America is undergoing a dramatic transformation. The U.S. continues to lead with ambitious expansion plans and record-setting export volumes, while Canada and Mexico are rapidly building their own export capabilities. As new projects come online and infrastructure hurdles are addressed, North America’s position as a global LNG export leader seems assured—at least for the foreseeable future.