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As global oil supply chains are disrupted, Texas producers and ports deliver record-breaking results, proving once again that American energy security runs through the Lone Star State.
In Texas, energy security is national security. As the Iran conflict continues to impact global energy markets and choke off shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, Texas crude and liquified natural gas exports have surged to historic levels, filling the void with the speed, scale, and reliability that only the world’s premier energy-producing state can provide. In just the first quarter of 2026, more than 54.5 million tons of commodities moved through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, marking the strongest first-quarter performance in the port’s history.
That record eclipsed a previous high of 54 million tons set in Q4 2024 and surpassed Q1 2025 exports by 3.2 million tons, a 6.1% increase driven in large part by a 33% spike in LNG exports. In March alone, crude oil exports through Corpus Christi exceeded 2.4 million barrels per day, among the highest single-month levels ever recorded. Refined product and LNG shipments climbed 11.4% and 36.8% year-over-year, respectively.
“The dramatically higher shipment levels seen since the start of the conflict in Iran are a testament to our customers’ ability to maximize their operations and quickly respond to changing market conditions,” Port of Corpus Christi CEO Kent Britton said, pointing to more than $1 billion in port improvements made over the past decade to modernize facilities and accelerate the safe movement of cargo through the waterway. When allies in Europe and Asia needed LNG and the global crude market tightened overnight, Corpus Christi was ready. That readiness is the product of a decade of proactive investment and Texas-sized ambition.
Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Wayne Christian put the moment in its proper context. “The conflict in Iran is a clear reminder of the world’s reliance on Texas oil and gas,” he said. “When America and our allies need stability, Texas energy is answering the call. What we are seeing right now is no accident. It is the result of sustained investment in our drilling capacity and world-class export infrastructure.”
There is a broader lesson embedded in these numbers. A Texans for Natural Gas analysis released alongside the production records found that methane emissions and flaring have dropped by 50 percent even as output climbs, a direct rebuke to those who insist that fossil fuel production cannot be both prolific and responsible. Texas is proving them wrong in real time.
Once again, Texas oil and natural gas producers are doing what they have always done: meeting growing global demand with infrastructure built for the moment, producers who know how to move fast, and a regulatory environment that rewards performance over politics.
