Mexico LNG exports have entered a new phase with the commissioning of the Energia Costa Azul (ECA) LNG terminal on the country’s Pacific coast. The project creates a new export corridor for U.S. Permian Basin gas, enabling LNG cargoes to reach Asia via one of the shortest maritime routes while bypassing the Panama Canal. The development is expected to improve shipping efficiency and could influence LNG trade flows across the Pacific Basin.
The milestone was marked by the departure of the first LNG cargo from ECA LNG Phase 1, with TotalEnergies shipping the inaugural cargo to Asia. The company holds a 16.6% interest in the project and has secured 1.7 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG under a 20-year offtake agreement. During the terminal’s ramp-up phase, TotalEnergies will be the sole LNG offtaker.
Located in Baja California, ECA LNG is the first LNG export terminal on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Unlike Gulf Coast export facilities, the terminal liquefies U.S. natural gas transported by pipeline from the Permian Basin before loading cargoes directly onto vessels bound for Asia. By avoiding the Panama Canal, the project offers shorter transit times, reduced transportation costs and greater routing flexibility for Pacific Basin customers.
The first phase of the project has a nameplate capacity of 3.25 Mtpa, while a significantly larger second phase is already under development at the same site. Beyond adding new liquefaction capacity, the project highlights the growing importance of diversified export routes as the global LNG industry seeks greater flexibility and resilience in serving Asian demand.
The launch of ECA LNG also reflects a broader evolution in North American LNG logistics. As new export capacity expands beyond the U.S. Gulf Coast, Mexico’s Pacific coastline is emerging as an alternative gateway to Asia, reducing dependence on traditional maritime chokepoints and providing LNG suppliers with additional options to optimise trade flows.
Source: TotalEnergies – Mexico: TotalEnergies Ships to Asia the Very First Cargo Produced by the ECA LNG Plant (9 July 2026).
