According to data from the NGL Voyager Report, propane exports reached an all-time high of 2.1 MMb/d in May. Not only does this break the previous record from the April, but it also marks the first instance of total U.S. propane exports above 2 MMb/d (far right stacked bar in figure below). RBN’s vessel tracking methodology is consistent with the weekly EIA estimates for May, which averaged 2.1 MMb/d as well. The increase was largely due to more volume exported out of Enterprise’s Neches River flex terminal. Phase 2 of the facility, which can export 360 Mb/d of propane or 180 Mb/d of ethane, or a combination of the two, started operations in April. The continued ramp-up of propane exports at Neches River coincided with weekly reported propane/propylene inventory withdrawals throughout May, particularly in PADD 3.
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Wind of Change – The U.S. Propane Market’s Shifting Trends Around Storage, Production and Exports
The U.S. propane market typically follows predictable trends. With much of domestic demand occurring in the colder months, storage builds in the summer and is withdrawn in the winter. But since mid-April, storage levels have increased by only 1.2 MMbbl. Today, we explore what is going on and why.
Leave the Door Open – Propane Exports to Increase in 2026 as War With Iran Shifts Market Dynamics
There are three main factors affecting today’s propane market: export economics, dock space and storage levels. The Iran war has dramatically shifted export economics and filled dock space, yet storage remains at all-time highs. In today’s RBN blog, we look at what’s in store for the rest of 2026.
Record Propane Exports Drive Rare Seasonal Propane Inventory Draw
PADD 3 propane inventories posted a rare 1.2-MMbbl draw as U.S. propane exports surged to a record 2.63 MMb/d. Growing utilization of Gulf Coast flex terminals continues to support strong propane exports and tighter regional balances.
