A New US LNG Terminal Opens for Business

Golden Pass LNG loaded its first commercial cargo on April 22, 2026, becoming the ninth US LNG export terminal

18 Jun 2026

On April 22, 2026, Golden Pass LNG loaded its first commercial liquefied natural gas cargo from its terminal on the Texas coast, marking its entry into the ranks of operating US export facilities. The cargo shipped just 23 days after the facility produced its first LNG, a rapid progression for a project of this scale.

The facility, owned jointly by QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, has Train 1 now commercially active. Trains 2 and 3 are scheduled to begin startup in late 2026 and early 2027 respectively, which will lift total throughput substantially as each unit comes online.

Global timing favours the project. European and Asian buyers are competing for flexible US cargoes ahead of peak summer demand, and two additional trains arriving before winter 2027 would position Golden Pass to capture the pricing windows that matter most for both the venture and upstream US producers.

Broader implications extend beyond a single terminal. Each new export facility adds downward pressure on domestic gas price volatility, while export revenues support upstream investment across the supply chain. Regulators in Washington have pointed to expanded LNG infrastructure as a tool for allied energy security, a consideration that has accelerated federal approvals across several pending projects.

With two trains still to start and global appetite for US LNG firm, Golden Pass is set to become one of the more consequential additions to American energy infrastructure this decade.