US Gas Output and Demand Hit Record Highs in 2026, EIA Predicts
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has projected that natural gas production and demand will reach record highs in 2026, according to its Short-Term Energy Outlook. The agency expects dry gas production to rise from a record 107.6 billion cubic feet per day in 2025 to 111.2 bcfd in 2026 and 116.0 bcfd in 2027.
Domestic gas consumption is also expected to reach a new high, increasing from 91.9 bcfd in 2025 to 92.0 bcfd in 2026 and 94.8 bcfd in 2027. The EIA forecast average US liquefied natural gas exports to rise from 15.1 bcfd in 2025 to 17.4 bcfd in 2026 and 18.6 bcfd in 2027.
The agency also projected that gas inventories will increase to a decade high of around four trillion cubic feet in October, providing a cushion for increased heating-related consumption during the winter. EIA Administrator Tristan Abbey noted that 'more natural gas in inventories in the fall season provides a cushion for increased heating-related consumption during the winter.'