US Gas Production Hits Record Highs as Coal Output Declines
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its Short-Term Energy Outlook, which forecasts record-breaking natural gas production and consumption in the United States for 2026 and 2027. According to the EIA, dry gas production is expected to reach a new high of 111.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2026 and 115.9 bcfd in 2027.
The agency also projects domestic gas consumption to rise from a record 91.9 bcfd in 2025 to 92.2 bcfd in 2026 and 94.3 bcfd in 2027, with average US liquefied natural gas exports expected to increase from a record 15.1 bcfd in 2025 to 17.4 bcfd in 2026 and 18.6 bcfd in 2027.
The EIA notes that U.S. coal production is projected to decline, dropping from a two-year high of 528.4 million short tons in 2025 to 516.3 million tons in 2026 and 496.7 million tons in 2027, which would be the lowest level since 1963.