07:51:26 EDT Thu 29 Oct 2026
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Cheniere Partners Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results and Tightens Full Year 2026 Distribution Guidance

2026-10-29 07:30 ET - News Release

 


HOUSTON -- (Business Wire)

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (“Cheniere Partners”) (NYSE: CQP) today announced its financial results for third quarter 2026.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, Cheniere Partners generated revenues of approximately $2.6 billion and $8.8 billion, net income of approximately $0.6 billion and $2.0 billion, and Adjusted EBITDA1 of approximately $1.0 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively.
  • With respect to the third quarter of 2026, Cheniere Partners declared a cash distribution of $0.890 per common unit to unitholders of record as of November 3, 2026, comprised of a base amount equal to $0.775 and a variable amount equal to $0.115. The common unit distribution and the related general partner distribution will be paid on November 13, 2026.
  • Tightening full year 2026 distribution guidance to $3.30 - $3.40 per common unit from $3.10 - $3.40 per common unit, maintaining a base distribution of $3.10 per common unit.
  • In October 2026, Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (“SPL”) entered into a long-term liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) sale and purchase agreement (“SPA”) with QatarEnergy to supply up to 2 million tonnes per annum (“mtpa”) of LNG on a free-on-board (“FOB”) basis beginning in the early 2030s through 2054, with 1 mtpa subject to, among other things, a positive Final Investment Decision (“FID”) with respect to the first phase of the SPL Expansion Project (defined below).
  • In September 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) issued the final environmental impact statement (“EIS”) relating to the SPL Expansion Project.
  • In September 2026, Cheniere Partners and its subsidiaries obtained commitments for a term loan to finance the construction costs of the first phase of the SPL Expansion Project that are not expected to be funded with available cash. The term loan is being sized to finance approximately 50% of the total estimated project costs of the first phase. Closing and funding are subject to customary conditions, including the issuance of a positive FID with respect to the first phase of the SPL Expansion Project.

2026 FULL YEAR DISTRIBUTION GUIDANCE

 

2026 Previous

 

2026 Revised

Distribution per Unit

$

3.10

-

$

3.40

 

$

3.30

-

$

3.40

 

SUMMARY AND REVIEW OF FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

(in millions, except LNG data)

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

% Change

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

% Change

Revenues

$

2,574

 

$

2,404

 

7

%

 

$

8,757

 

$

7,848

 

12

%

Net income

$

639

 

$

506

 

26

%

 

$

1,986

 

$

1,700

 

17

%

Adjusted EBITDA1

$

954

 

$

885

 

8

%

 

$

3,112

 

$

2,649

 

17

%

LNG exported:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of cargoes

 

104

 

 

104

 

—

%

 

 

324

 

 

314

 

3

%

Volumes (TBtu)

 

377

 

 

374

 

1

%

 

 

1,185

 

 

1,132

 

5

%

LNG volumes loaded and recognized (TBtu)

 

378

 

 

374

 

1

%

 

 

1,187

 

 

1,130

 

5

%

Net income increased approximately $133 million and $286 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, as compared to the corresponding 2025 periods. The increases were primarily driven by higher total margins on LNG delivered, primarily driven by higher volumes recognized in income as well as higher margins per MMBtu of LNG delivered during the periods. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 was partially offset by approximately $208 million of unfavorable variances related to changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments, including those impacts related to our long-term Integrated Production Marketing (IPM) agreements.

Adjusted EBITDA1 increased by approximately $69 million and $463 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, due to higher total margins on LNG delivered, primarily driven by higher volumes recognized in income as well as higher margins per MMBtu of LNG delivered during the periods.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, we recognized in income 378 and 1,187 TBtu, respectively, of LNG loaded from the SPL Project (defined below).

Capital Resources

The table below provides a summary of our available liquidity (in millions) as of September 30, 2026:

 

September 30, 2026

Cash and cash equivalents

$

569

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

 

35

Available commitments under our credit facilities(1):

 

SPL Revolving Credit Facility

 

873

Cheniere Partners Revolving Credit Facility

 

1,000

Total available commitments under our credit facilities

 

1,873

 

 

Total available liquidity

$

2,477

(1)

Available commitments represent total commitments less loans outstanding and letters of credit issued under each of our credit facilities as of September 30, 2026.

Recent Key Financial Transactions and Updates

In September 2026, SPL repaid approximately $54 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its Senior Secured Notes due 2037 with weighted average rate of 4.748% as of June 30, 2026 (the “2037 SPL Senior Notes”) based on the fixed amortization schedules.

In September 2026, Cheniere Partners and its subsidiaries obtained commitments for a term loan to finance the construction costs of the first phase of the SPL Expansion Project that are not expected to be funded with available cash. Closing and funding are subject to customary conditions, including the issuance of a positive FID with respect to the first phase of the SPL Expansion Project. Additionally, we have secured commitments to amend and extend the maturities of the SPL Revolving Credit Facility and the Cheniere Partners Revolving Credit Facility, including the reallocation of $250 million in commitments from the SPL Revolving Credit Facility to the Cheniere Partners Revolving Credit Facility.

SABINE PASS OVERVIEW

We own natural gas liquefaction facilities with total production capacity of over 30 mtpa of LNG at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana (the “SPL Project”), inclusive of six liquefaction trains.

As of October 23, 2026, approximately 3,560 cumulative LNG cargoes totaling over 245 million tonnes of LNG have been produced, loaded, and exported from the SPL Project.

SPL Expansion Project

We are developing an expansion adjacent to the SPL Project with an expected total peak production capacity of up to approximately 20 mtpa of LNG (the “SPL Expansion Project”), inclusive of estimated debottlenecking opportunities. We expect to execute the SPL Expansion Project in a phased approach, maximizing brownfield economics, and a positive FID is subject to, among other things, receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and acceptable commercial and financing arrangements.

The first phase includes a single train, Train 7, and a boil-off gas re-liquefaction unit, along with supporting infrastructure and tie-ins to the existing Sabine Pass LNG terminal, and has an expected total production capacity of over 6 mtpa of LNG, inclusive of estimated debottlenecking opportunities. In May 2026, the lump sum, turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Bechtel Energy, Inc. (“Bechtel”) for the first phase of the SPL Expansion Project was signed, and Bechtel was released to commence early engineering and procurement under a limited notice to proceed (LNTP).

The FERC application for authorization to site, construct and operate the SPL Expansion Project, as well as the Department of Energy (DOE) application authorizing the export of LNG to non-free trade agreement countries, remain pending. In September 2026, the FERC issued the final EIS relating to the SPL Expansion Project.

DISTRIBUTIONS TO UNITHOLDERS

In October 2026, we declared a cash distribution of $0.890 per common unit to unitholders of record as of November 3, 2026, comprised of a base amount equal to $0.775 ($3.10 annualized) and a variable amount equal to $0.115, which takes into consideration, among other things, amounts reserved for annual debt repayment and capital allocation goals, anticipated capital expenditures to be funded with cash, and cash reserves to provide for the proper conduct of the business. The common unit distribution and the related general partner distribution will be paid on November 13, 2026.

INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE: LNG) will host a conference call to discuss its financial and operating results for the third quarter on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 11 a.m. Eastern time / 10 a.m. Central time. A listen-only webcast of the call and an accompanying slide presentation may be accessed through our website at www.cheniere.com. Following the call, an archived recording will be made available on our website. The call and accompanying slide presentation will include financial and operating results or other information regarding Cheniere Partners.

About Cheniere Partners

Cheniere Partners owns the Sabine Pass LNG terminal located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, which has natural gas liquefaction facilities with a total production capacity of over 30 mtpa of LNG, inclusive of debottlenecking opportunities. The Sabine Pass LNG terminal also has operational regasification facilities that include five LNG storage tanks, vaporizers, and three marine berths. Cheniere Partners also owns the Creole Trail Pipeline, which interconnects the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with a number of large interstate and intrastate pipelines.

For additional information, please refer to the Cheniere Partners website at www.cheniere.com and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the accompanying news release contains a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that is used to facilitate comparisons of operating performance across periods. This non-GAAP measure should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for our U.S. GAAP measures of performance and the financial results calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and the reconciliation from these results should be carefully evaluated.

Non-GAAP measures have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or in lieu of an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP and should be evaluated only on a supplementary basis.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that may include “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts or conditions, included herein are “forward-looking statements.” Included among “forward-looking statements” are, among other things, (i) statements regarding Cheniere Partners’ financial and operational guidance, business strategy, plans and objectives, including the development, construction and operation of liquefaction facilities, (ii) statements regarding Cheniere Partners’ anticipated quarterly distributions and ability to make quarterly distributions at the base amount or any amount, (iii) statements regarding regulatory authorization and approval expectations, (iv) statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding the development of Cheniere Partners’ LNG terminal and liquefaction business, (v) statements regarding the business operations and prospects of third-parties, (vi) statements regarding potential financing arrangements, (vii) statements regarding future discussions and entry into contracts, and (viii) statements relating to our goals, commitments and strategies in relation to environmental matters. Although Cheniere Partners believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Cheniere Partners’ actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in Cheniere Partners’ periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required under the securities laws, Cheniere Partners does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in millions, except per unit data)(1)

(unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2026

 

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2026

 

 

 

2025

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LNG revenues

$

1,956

 

 

$

1,837

 

 

$

6,561

 

 

$

5,961

 

LNG revenues—affiliate

 

567

 

 

 

518

 

 

 

2,044

 

 

 

1,738

 

Regasification revenues

 

34

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

102

 

 

 

102

 

Other revenues

 

17

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

50

 

 

 

47

 

Total revenues

 

2,574

 

 

 

2,404

 

 

 

8,757

 

 

 

7,848

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales (excluding operating and maintenance expense and depreciation and amortization expense shown separately below)(2)

 

1,276

 

 

 

1,278

 

 

 

4,757

 

 

 

4,177

 

Cost of sales—affiliate

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

—

 

Operating and maintenance expense

 

236

 

 

 

191

 

 

 

692

 

 

 

683

 

Operating and maintenance expense—affiliate

 

43

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

136

 

 

 

126

 

Operating and maintenance expense—related party

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

28

 

General and administrative expense

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

9

 

General and administrative expense—affiliate

 

25

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

72

 

 

 

70

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

174

 

 

 

173

 

 

 

522

 

 

 

515

 

Other operating costs and expenses

 

2

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

2

 

Other operating costs and expenses—affiliate

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

1,759

 

 

 

1,708

 

 

 

6,241

 

 

 

5,611

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

815

 

 

 

696

 

 

 

2,516

 

 

 

2,237

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest

 

(182

)

 

 

(189

)

 

 

(546

)

 

 

(567

)

Other income (expense), net

 

6

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

13

 

 

 

7

 

Other income—affiliate

 

—

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

23

 

Total other expense

 

(176

)

 

 

(190

)

 

 

(530

)

 

 

(537

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

639

 

 

$

506

 

 

$

1,986

 

 

$

1,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net income per common unit(1)

$

1.01

 

 

$

0.80

 

 

$

3.34

 

 

$

2.79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average basic and diluted number of common units outstanding

 

484

 

 

 

484

 

 

 

484

 

 

 

484

 

 

(1)

Please refer to the Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2)

Cost of sales includes approximately $10 million of gains and $105 million of losses from changes in the fair value of commodity derivatives prior to contractual delivery or termination, primarily related to non-cash changes in the fair value of our long-term IPM agreements during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 prior to the normal purchases and normal sales (“NPNS”) designation, respectively, as compared to $16 million of losses and $103 million of gains in the corresponding 2025 periods, respectively.

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions, except unit data) (1)

(unaudited)

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

2026

 

 

 

2025

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

569

 

 

$

182

 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

 

35

 

 

 

19

 

Trade and other receivables, net of current expected credit losses

 

327

 

 

 

511

 

Trade and other receivables—affiliate

 

290

 

 

 

238

 

Advances to affiliates

 

152

 

 

 

145

 

Inventory

 

165

 

 

 

180

 

Prepaid expenses

 

50

 

 

 

42

 

Other current assets, net

 

16

 

 

 

21

 

Total current assets

 

1,604

 

 

 

1,338

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

 

15,087

 

 

 

15,259

 

Operating lease assets

 

73

 

 

 

76

 

Deferred NPNS assets

 

669

 

 

 

—

 

Derivative assets

 

1

 

 

 

541

 

Other non-current assets, net

 

405

 

 

 

223

 

Total assets

$

17,839

 

 

$

17,437

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

97

 

 

$

53

 

Accrued liabilities

 

738

 

 

 

990

 

Current debt, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs

 

112

 

 

 

306

 

Due to affiliates

 

50

 

 

 

57

 

Deferred revenue

 

144

 

 

 

119

 

Current portion of deferred NPNS liabilities

 

103

 

 

 

—

 

Current derivative liabilities

 

84

 

 

 

164

 

Other current liabilities

 

14

 

 

 

15

 

Other current liabilities—affiliate

 

6

 

 

 

4

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,348

 

 

 

1,708

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs

 

14,283

 

 

 

14,161

 

Deferred NPNS liabilities

 

1,055

 

 

 

—

 

Derivative liabilities

 

41

 

 

 

900

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

216

 

 

 

231

 

Other non-current liabilities—affiliate

 

17

 

 

 

23

 

Total liabilities

 

16,960

 

 

 

17,023

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ equity

 

 

 

Common unitholders’ interest (484 million units issued and outstanding at both September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025)

 

3,921

 

 

 

3,156

 

General partner’s interest (2% interest with 10 million units issued and outstanding at both September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025)

 

(3,042

)

 

 

(2,742

)

Total partners’ equity

 

879

 

 

 

414

 

Total liabilities and partners’ equity

$

17,839

 

 

$

17,437

 

 

(1)

Please refer to the Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

Regulation G Reconciliations

Adjusted EBITDA

The following table reconciles our Adjusted EBITDA to U.S. GAAP results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025 (in millions):

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

2026

 

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2026

 

 

 

2025

 

Net income

$

639

 

 

$

506

 

 

$

1,986

 

 

$

1,700

 

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest

 

182

 

 

 

189

 

 

 

546

 

 

 

567

 

Other expense (income), net

 

(6

)

 

 

2

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

(7

)

Other income—affiliate

 

—

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(3

)

 

 

(23

)

Income from operations

$

815

 

 

$

696

 

 

$

2,516

 

 

$

2,237

 

Adjustments to reconcile income from operations to Adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

174

 

 

 

173

 

 

 

522

 

 

 

515

 

Loss (gain) from changes in fair value of commodity derivatives, net

 

(9

)

 

 

16

 

 

 

105

 

 

 

(103

)

Amortization of deferred NPNS assets and liabilities

 

(26

)

 

 

—

 

 

 

(31

)

 

 

—

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

954

 

 

$

885

 

 

$

3,112

 

 

$

2,649

 

Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used as a supplemental financial measure by our management and external users of our Consolidated Financial Statements to assess the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structures, or historical cost basis. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flows from operations or net income as defined by U.S. GAAP and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides relevant and useful information to management, investors and other users of our financial information in evaluating the effectiveness of our operating performance in a manner that is consistent with management’s evaluation of financial and operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by taking net income before interest expense, net of capitalized interest, depreciation and amortization, and adjusting for the effects of certain non-cash items, other non-operating income or expense items and other items not otherwise predictive or indicative of ongoing operating performance, including the effects of modification or extinguishment of debt, impairment expense, gain or loss on disposal of assets, changes in the fair value of our commodity derivatives prior to contractual delivery or termination, and amortization of deferred NPNS assets and liabilities. Changes in the fair value of commodity derivatives and amortization of deferred NPNS assets and liabilities are considered in determining Adjusted EBITDA given that the timing of recognizing gains and losses associated with these adjustments differs from the recognition of the related item economically hedged. We believe the exclusion of these items enables investors and other users of our financial information to assess our sequential and year-over-year performance and operating trends on a more comparable basis and is consistent with management’s own evaluation of performance. 

Contacts:

Cheniere Partners
Investors
Randy Bhatia 713-375-5479
Frances Smith 713-375-5753

Media Relations
Randy Bhatia 713-375-5479
Bernardo Fallas 713-375-5593

Source: Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

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