Canadian propane exports to Asia are expected to continue growing in 2025, driven by increased export capacity and natural gas liquids (NGL) production, as producers ramp up drilling to meet rising demand ahead of the LNG Canada export facility start up.
Propane and butane exports from Canada to Asia average about 153,000 b/d in the third quarter of 2024. AltaGas exported 128,272 b/d of propane and butane to Asia during the quarter, with about 50,000 b/d leaving its Ferndale, Washington, terminal and 70,000 b/d from the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET) in British Columbia (BC). Additional exports came from Pembina's 25,000 b/d propane export terminal at Watson Island near Prince Rupert, BC.
Midstream operators are investing in an additional 70,000 b/d of propane and butane export capacity in the next few years. AltaGas is advancing the construction of its Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF) adjacent to RIPET, which will have an export capacity of 55,000 b/d in its first stage, potentially operational by 2028. Pembina is also considering a 15,000 b/d expansion of its propane export terminal, but a final investment decision (FID) has not yet been made.
Another potential increase in export capacity could come if Trigon Terminals repurposes its 18mn t/yr coal export terminal on Ridley Island for NGL exports. There has been no FID on this project, and the company is in litigation with the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) over export rights. If approved, the project could be operational by 2028, according to the company.
The growth in export capacity is driven by rising natural gas production, stemming from expectations of increased LNG exports from Canada. The 14mn t/yr LNG Canada export terminal began commissioning in late August and is expected to start shipping LNG cargoes by mid-2025. Located in Kitimat, BC, it is only 120km from the country's Pacific coast LPG export hub near Prince Rupert.
Another LNG facility under construction is the 2.1mn t/yr Woodfibre LNG export terminal near Squamish, BC, north of Vancouver. This joint venture between Canadian midstream operator Enbridge and Singapore-based Pacific Energy is expected to be completed in 2027. Additionally, the Indigenous Haisla Nation and Pembina Pipeline reached a final investment decision for their 3.3mn t/yr Cedar LNG floating facility in Kitimat, which is set to open in late 2028.
Fractionation capacity also grows
The increase in natural gas production will result in higher NGL output, with about 90pc of Canada's NGL production coming from natural gas. This has driven increased demand for fractionation services in western Canada.
Keyera plans to debottleneck its second fractionation unit at Keyera Fort Saskatchewan (KFS) in Alberta, adding 8,000 b/d of capacity to the existing 66,000 b/d. Keyera expects to make a final decision early next year, with potential completion by late 2026. The company has also secured customer backing to build a third KFS fractionator, which it hopes to commission in 2028.
Pembina continues to advance its 55,000 b/d Redwater IV fractionation facility at its Redwater complex (RFS) in Alberta, which is expected to be online in the first half of 2026. Currently, RFS has three fractionators with a total capacity of 210,000 b/d. Calgary-based Wolf Midstream reached an FID in July to build phase two of its NGL North complex, which will include a 90,000 b/d fractionation facility, including 60,000 b/d of ethane capacity.
Canadian propane exports increased to 64.9mn bl in January-October, compared with 58.7mn bl during the same period in 2023.
