Key facts
- Cheniere's seventh LNG train at Corpus Christi is close to beginning production.
- First LNG from the train is expected imminently.
- Cheniere raised its 2026 output guidance to 53mn-54mn t.
- The company has less than 1mn t of unsold spot capacity remaining.
- Construction on an expansion at Sabine Pass is targeted to begin in early 2027.
The final liquefied natural gas (LNG) train at Cheniere's Corpus Christi facility in Texas is nearing production, with first output expected imminently. The US LNG developer announced on Wednesday that the earlier-than-expected startup of the seventh train, part of the 14 million tonne per year stage 3 project, is helping Cheniere raise its 2026 output guidance.
Cheniere expects the seventh train to be fully operational and begin commercial service this autumn. Contractor Bechtel has brought the seven-train expansion, which began producing LNG in late 2024, into service ahead of schedule. This has allowed Cheniere to tighten its production guidance for 2026 to 53-54 million tonnes, an increase from previous forecasts. The company informed investors that it has less than 1 million tonnes of unsold spot capacity remaining.
Cheniere has conducted minor maintenance at both its Corpus Christi LNG facility and its 33 million tonne per year Sabine Pass export terminal in Louisiana throughout 2026, with planned outages expected to conclude by the end of August. The company also reaffirmed its intention to commence construction on the first phase of an expansion at Sabine Pass in early 2027, contingent upon FERC approval by late 2026. This expansion, for which Cheniere signed a deal with Bechtel in May, aims to add 20 million tonnes per year, with the first phase including a 6 million tonne per year liquefaction train and 1 million tonne per year of boil-off gas reliquefaction capacity. The first phase is already fully commercialized, and Cheniere has sold 10 million tonnes per year under long-term contracts applicable to its expansion efforts.