TotalEnergies Ships First LNG Cargo from Mexico's ECA Plant to Asia, Capturing 52 Percent of Output Under 20-Year Offtake

TotalEnergies shipped the first liquefied natural gas cargo from the ECA LNG terminal in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, to Asia on July 9, 2026. The milestone opens the first operational LNG export corridor from a Pacific-coast facility in North America. Sempra Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, operates the 3.25 million metric tonne per annum terminal after reaching substantial completion in summer 2026.

Ownership Structure: Sempra Operates, TotalEnergies Controls Commercial Volume

Sempra Energy is the parent of Sempra Infrastructure, which controls and operates ECA LNG. TotalEnergies holds a 16.6 percent equity stake in the plant, giving it a minority ownership interest. Under a separate 20-year offtake agreement, TotalEnergies takes 1.7 Mtpa of LNG from the terminal, representing 52.3 percent of ECA's 3.25 Mtpa nameplate capacity. Gas supply flows from the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico via Mexico's domestic pipeline network to the Ensenada liquefaction trains.

What 52 Percent Offtake Means in Commercial Terms

TotalEnergies is the sole offtaker during the plant's ramp-up phase, meaning all early commercial volumes flow to TotalEnergies until a second offtaker joins the project. CEO Patrick Pouyané described the terminal's Pacific position as a strategic asset for Asian market access. "The start-up of ECA LNG, whose strategic location provides privileged access to Asian markets, strengthens the quality of our integrated LNG portfolio in North America," Pouyané said in the July 9 press release.

Pacific Route Cuts Transit Time to Asian Buyers

Baja California's Pacific Coast location reduces sea transit time to Japanese and South Korean LNG import terminals to approximately 12 to 14 days. U.S. Gulf Coast LNG terminals such as Sabine Pass in Louisiana and Freeport in Texas require 21 to 25 days to reach the same Asian ports. The shorter route reduces per-cargo vessel operating costs and speeds cargo cycling, improving the delivered netback for TotalEnergies on each shipment.

Asian LNG spot prices rose 10 percent to March highs on Thursday as Hormuz supply concerns intensified, according to OilPrice.com. Henry Hub natural gas traded at $2.893 per MMBtu on Thursday, per OilPrice.com market data. ECA LNG's first cargo shipped during a period of elevated Asian demand and constrained supply through the Strait of Hormuz.

Phase 2 Expansion and Mexico's LNG Export Ambitions

ECA LNG Phase 1 is the first LNG export terminal to operate on Mexico's Pacific coast. A second, larger expansion phase is in development at the same Ensenada site, with potential capacity beyond 10 Mtpa. S&P Global projected in July 2026 that LNG will become the second-largest U.S. export industry by 2031. Permian Basin gas, which feeds ECA LNG, forms a primary feedstock pillar for that projected export growth.