US propane exports climbed in the first half of 2026 amid supply disruptions in the Middle East, with shipments to markets such as India remaining well above the five-year average, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

In a report released Thursday, the EIA said exports rose 11% year over year to 2 million barrels per day in the first half, supported by record production and shipments to India and other South Asian countries.

April exports set a record of 2.1 million barrels per day, "driven by rising petrochemical demand and importers seeking alternatives to disrupted Middle Eastern supply."

Higher propane production has made US supply more competitively priced relative to Asia, giving it an edge over cargoes from other regions.

Growth in total US propane exports may be constrained by export capacity bottlenecks and ongoing drought conditions in the Panama Canal caused by El Nino.

Separately, major exporter Enterprise Products Partners is expected to complete expansion projects at the Houston Ship Channel and Nederland terminal this year, adding 300,000 barrels per day of export capacity.