Enterprise Products Partners has increased the loading rate at its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export terminal on the Houston Ship Channel from 16,500 barrels per hour (BPH) to 27,500 BPH of capacity.

The incremental capacity was achieved through the completion of a new refrigeration train that increases loading capabilities at the terminal from nine million barrels (MMBbls) per month to 16 MMBbls per month of LPG, which equates to a total of approximately 29 vessels per month.

“This terminal serves as the premier LPG export facility in the U.S. and the timing of these expansion projects could not have been better,” said A.J. Teague, chief operating officer of Enterprise’s general partner. “In addition to meeting the growing international demand for price-advantaged, domestic LPG, the terminal also benefits producers by providing market access and facilitating continued development of U.S. energy supplies.”

The LPG terminal expansion is among $7.8 billion in capital growth projects Enterprise expects to complete and bring into service by the end of 2017. These projects, which are supported by long-term contracts, are primarily focused on meeting the needs of petrochemical plants, refineries, and international businesses.

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is one of the largest publicly traded partnerships and a leading North American provider of midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals. The partnership’s assets include 49,000 miles of pipelines; 225 million barrels of storage capacity for NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals; and 14 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity.