Trans Mountain Pipeline near full capacity in 2026
- AMP
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline is approaching a major operational milestone.
For the month of April, the system is expected to run nearly at full capacity, marking the highest utilization since the pipeline expansion was completed in 2024.
The Trans Mountain system, which can transport up to 890,000 barrels of crude oil per day, moves oil from Alberta’s oil sands to the Pacific coast in British Columbia, allowing Canadian crude to reach global markets, particularly buyers in Asia.
According to company executives speaking during the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, pipeline utilization has recently climbed into the high-90 percent range, a significant increase compared with the early months following the expansion, Reuters reported.
Global supply disruptions increase demand
One factor driving this surge is instability in global oil markets.
Disruptions affecting crude supplies in the Middle East have increased demand for alternative sources, and Canadian oil has become an attractive option for Asian buyers, including refiners in China.
When the expanded pipeline began operating last year, the system was running at roughly 84% of its capacity, and industry forecasts suggested that full utilization might not occur until 2027 or 2028.
Instead, global market dynamics have accelerated demand for Canadian exports much faster than expected.
For producers in Alberta, this development represents an important opportunity.
Canada’s oil sands operations are projected to increase production in the coming years, potentially surpassing last year’s record output of 5.3 million barrels per day by 2026.
Future capacity expansion
Even with the system approaching full utilization, additional improvements are already being planned.
Trans Mountain is evaluating several optimization projects designed to increase the pipeline’s throughput.
Among the initiatives under consideration are the use of drag-reducing agents and the installation of additional pumping stations, which could boost the system’s capacity by approximately 300,000 barrels per day by 2028.
At the same time, policymakers in Alberta have been exploring the feasibility of an entirely new export pipeline capable of transporting one million barrels of oil per day to Canada’s northwest coast.
Such a project would significantly expand the country’s ability to supply Asian markets, although no private developers have yet committed to building the infrastructure.
Implications for the energy supply chain
For companies operating across the energy sector, from upstream producers to drilling contractors and equipment suppliers, the rapid rise in pipeline utilization highlights a broader trend: global demand for reliable oil supply remains strong, particularly when geopolitical disruptions affect traditional exporting regions.
As production and export capacity continue to grow in North America, maintaining efficient drilling operations and reliable equipment becomes even more critical to keeping the supply chain moving.
