Severe Winter Storm Causes Oil and LNG Export Shutdown from U.S. Gulf Coast

Exports of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and other petroleum products from major ports along the U.S. Gulf Coast unexpectedly fell to zero on Sunday, January 25, 2026, after an intense winter storm brought freezing weather to key energy infrastructure across the South and Southeast United States. The data — provided by the ship-tracking service Vortexa — highlights the vulnerability of global energy supply chains to extreme weather events.

This report examines the details of the export stoppage, the meteorological causes behind it, how markets reacted, what it means for U.S. and global energy systems, and how regulators and industry participants are responding.

Snapshot of the Export Freeze

According to Vortexa, crude oil exports were roughly 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd) on Saturday — a typical level for this time of year. However, when the deep freeze tightened its grip and ports temporarily closed as a safety precaution, export flows plunged to zero on Sunday. By Monday, export activity had resumed, with crude oil flows surpassing 4.4 million bpd once terminals and shipping channels reopened.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shipments, including propane and butane, also experienced sharp declines. LPG exports dropped about 75% from Saturday to Sunday, with volumes falling to approximately 739,454 bpd before operations stabilized.

LNG export volumes — which had been flowing at about 159 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) on Saturday — also dropped to zero on Sunday, according to Vortexa. While the data showed exports rising again by Monday, the temporary shutdown was notable given the high global demand for U.S. LNG.

What Caused the Export Halt?

The Gulf Coast region — stretching from Texas to Louisiana — is home to critical energy infrastructure including refineries, export terminals, petrochemical plants, and pipeline networks that support both domestic consumption and exports overseas. In late January 2026, the region was hit by an Arctic-origin winter storm that brought below-normal temperatures, high winds, ice, and snow — conditions that rarely occur in combination so far south.

Extreme cold can disrupt energy operations in several ways:

• Freezing equipment and pipelines: Frigid temperatures can cause valves, pumps, and loading arms to freeze or become brittle, making safe operation difficult.
• Port channel closures: Ice formation and safety concerns can force authorities to suspend ship movements temporarily.
• Staffing and power issues: Workers may find it unsafe to operate outdoors, and power grids under stress from high heating demand can experience outages, reducing operational capacity.

These factors combined to make it necessary for port authorities and energy companies to halt export activities until weather conditions improved.

Industry Response and Recovery

Energy companies and port operators reacted quickly to the freezing conditions. Many facilities had contingency plans for temporary weather disruptions, and once the worst of the storm passed, operations resumed. Port authorities reopened shipping channels, and export terminals restarted loading operations as soon as ice conditions and temperature forecasts improved.

Market analysis experts pointed out that such weather-related shutdowns are typically short-lived but can have outsized impacts on markets if they coincide with other supply constraints. In this case, crude oil exports rebounded quickly on Monday, although LPG and LNG flows took slightly longer to return to normal.

Economic and Market Impacts

The temporary export halt had immediate effects on energy markets. News of the export disruption contributed to rising crude oil prices globally, as traders weighed the implications of lost U.S. supply against tight global inventories. On Tuesday, Brent crude futures increased about 3%, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also climbing — reflecting heightened supply concerns.

Natural gas prices were influenced as well. As production and export feedgas flows tightened during the freeze, U.S. Henry Hub natural gas futures saw significant volatility. Prices surged earlier in the week — driven in part by expectations of supply constraints amid frigid weather — before settling somewhat as temperatures began to moderate and production gradually restarted.

Analysts noted that while these price moves were partly weather-driven and may reverse as production and exports fully normalize, they highlighted the sensitivity of energy markets to short-term disruptions. Strong demand for LNG in global markets — especially in Europe and Asia — meant that even brief pauses in export volumes were closely monitored.

Broader Energy Sector Disruptions

The Gulf Coast freeze did not only affect exports. The storm impacted production and refining operations inland as well. Estimates suggested that up to 2 million bpd of U.S. crude output could have been temporarily curtailed due to weather-related shutdowns, mechanical issues, and well freeze-offs. This represents a significant portion of U.S. daily oil production.

Some refineries reported operational issues linked to the cold conditions. For example, units at the ExxonMobil Baytown facility were taken offline, and unexpected flaring — a safety measure when processing capacity is limited — occurred at other sites. Though only a few refineries reported major damage, the cumulative effect added to concerns about supply tightness during the storm.

In summary, the winter storm’s reach extended far beyond the Gulf Coast ports, affecting production fields, pipelines, processing plants, and export terminals across the energy value chain.

Global Energy Supply Considerations

The U.S. has been a major exporter of both crude oil and LNG in recent years, contributing significantly to global energy supply diversification. Disruptions in U.S. exports — even temporary ones — can ripple through international markets.

European markets, in particular, have become increasingly reliant on U.S. LNG imports to reduce dependence on Russian gas and ensure winter heating supplies. A sudden drop to zero exports, even if short, raised concerns among buyers about supply security and highlighted the interconnectedness of global energy infrastructure.

Furthermore, with global demand for energy still strong in many regions, short-term supply disturbances can feed into price volatility and influence long-term investment decisions in production and infrastructure.

Expert Perspectives on Resilience and Preparedness

Energy experts emphasize that extreme weather events — intensified by climate variability — are likely to remain a threat to infrastructure designed for “normal” conditions. While robust contingency plans exist, events such as the January 2026 freeze demonstrate that even well-prepared systems can face unexpected challenges.

Some analysts call for additional investment in weather-proofing critical assets, improved forecasting and communication systems, and diversification of export logistics to mitigate risks. Industry participants are also looking at advanced technologies such as real-time monitoring and automated freeze protection systems to reduce the likelihood of operational outages in future storms.

Looking Forward: Market Expectations and Winter Weather Preparedness

In the days following the export blackout, analysts projected that as temperatures warmed and infrastructure returned to full capacity, markets could stabilize. Nonetheless, residual concerns about inventory levels and the potential for further cold snaps persist. Traders, producers, and policymakers are watching weather models and industry data closely to gauge how long it will take for U.S. exports and production to fully normalize.

Beyond U.S. borders, the event serves as a reminder for global energy stakeholders to consider extreme weather resilience in long-term planning. Whether in infrastructure financing, risk management, or regulatory standards, climate-related risks are increasingly being incorporated into strategic assessments.

In conclusion, the temporary halt of oil and LNG exports from the U.S. Gulf Coast on Sunday was a clear reminder of how vulnerable even well-developed energy systems can be to extreme weather. The rebound in exports by Monday showed the resilience of industry and logistics networks, but the episode also underscored the need for continued focus on preparedness, supply chain flexibility, and climate adaptation.