U.S. LNG routes to the Caribbean are expanding fast

The Caribbean is quietly becoming one of the most dynamic markets for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). 

In 2025, exports from the United States to the region reached approximately 300 million cubic feet per day, the second-highest level since LNG shipments first departed from Sabine Pass, Louisiana in 2016, according to EIA.

Behind this growth is a clear geographic advantage: short maritime routes between the U.S. Gulf Coast and Caribbean terminals, making LNG deliveries faster and more economical compared with shipments to Europe or Asia.

For the maritime industry, and for vessel operators moving across the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, these routes are becoming increasingly important.

Key Caribbean LNG shipping routes

Most LNG cargoes bound for the Caribbean depart from U.S. Gulf Coast export terminals, particularly along the Louisiana and Texas coastline. 

From there, LNG carriers follow relatively short routes across the Gulf of Mexico toward three primary import markets:

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has emerged as the largest LNG importer in the Caribbean. 

The country operates two regasification facilities: the Andrés terminal, operating since 2003, and the Manzanillo floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), which began operations in 2025. Together they provide around 0.7 Bcf/d of capacity.

Jamaica

Jamaica operates two LNG import terminals with a combined capacity of roughly 0.4 Bcf/d: the Montego Bay onshore terminal and a floating storage and regasification unit at Old Harbour. 

These facilities support the island’s transition from fuel oil to natural gas for electricity generation.

Panama

The Costa Norte LNG terminal is Panama’s only regasification facility and has a capacity of approximately 0.2 Bcf/d. 

In addition to serving domestic demand, Panama’s location near the Panama Canal also gives it strategic importance for regional LNG distribution.

Combined, these three countries imported roughly 0.4 Bcf/d of LNG in 2024, a 32% increase compared with the previous year. U.S. LNG accounted for 85% of those imports, highlighting the growing dominance of American supply in the region.

U.S. LNG routes to the Caribbean are expanding fast

Infrastructure expansion is continuing

Additional infrastructure is on the way. Two new LNG terminals are currently under construction:

• Puerto Cortés LNG terminal in Honduras, expected to begin operations in early 2026.

• Nassau Mini LNG terminal in the Bahamas, scheduled for completion in late 2026.

As these projects come online, LNG traffic across the Caribbean basin is expected to increase further.

Smaller markets and container LNG

Not every Caribbean country has large regasification infrastructure. 

Nations such as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago import small volumes of LNG through ISO container shipments. 

These containers can be handled in standard ports but are significantly more expensive compared with traditional LNG tanker deliveries.

Puerto Rico and the Jones Act

Puerto Rico also has LNG regasification capacity, but shipments from the U.S. mainland remain limited because of restrictions under the Jones Act, which requires vessels transporting goods between U.S. ports to be U.S.-flagged. 

In 2025, Puerto Rico received 43 LNG tanker shipments, but only 12 originated from the continental United States.

Why these routes matter

For shipping operators and energy companies, the Gulf of Mexico–Caribbean LNG corridor is becoming a strategic energy supply route.

The combination of growing demand, expanding regasification capacity, and short shipping distances is positioning the Caribbean as a stable and growing market for U.S. LNG exports.

For vessels operating between Houston, Louisiana, and Caribbean ports, LNG trade is likely to remain an important driver of maritime activity in the region for years to come.