Global trade has expanded dramatically in recent decades, with marine transportation serving as the backbone of international commerce. However, shipping is also a major pathway for the human-mediated introduction of marine species across biogeographical barriers. Changes in trade patterns can alter shipping routes and frequencies and ship behaviors, thereby reshaping invasion dynamics. The United States has undergone a significant shift in liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade—from a net importer to one of the world’s leading exporters, mainly through the LNG terminal development on the Texas coast—raising important questions about the ecological implications of this transition. This study investigates the evolving invasion dynamics associated with this transition by analyzing two primary vectors of species introduction: ballast water (BW) discharge and biofouling of submerged hull surfaces. While ballast water risks can largely be mitigated through regulatory measures, biofouling remains globally unregulated. With the increasing frequency of LNG shipments, greater vessel wetted surface and niche areas, and extended cumulative exposure times at port, the potential for species introductions via hull fouling is on the rise. We highlight the urgent need for mandatory international and national biofouling regulations to complement existing ballast water management measures to more effectively mitigate the growing risk of marine invasions associated with the expanding LNG trade.