The huge amounts of natural gas from U.S. shale has lead to the first shipments of ethane to Europe, the federal government reports.
From the U.S. Energy Information Administration:
"Increased production of ethane in the United States has led to increased ethane exports, first by pipeline to Canada and more recently by tanker to overseas destinations. Ethane is used domestically and internationally as a key feedstock for plastics production and other industrial uses.
"The first U.S. ethane export terminal, located in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles southwest of Philadelphia, has an export capacity of 35,000 barrels per day (b/d) and began shipping ethane cargos in March 2016. The second U.S. ethane export terminal, opened by Enterprise Products Partners in Morgan's Point, Texas, recently sent its first shipment to Norway. This 200,000 b/d-capacity facility, located on the Houston Ship Channel, is the first ethane terminal in the Gulf Coast region."
The full report is here.