US LNG Exports Surge 23% in H1 2026 on New Capacity

US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports surged by 23% in the first half of 2026, driven by new capacity and expansions at existing facilities. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that LNG exports averaged 17.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) during the first six months of this year, a significant increase from the same period last year.

The growth in US LNG exports was mainly due to new terminals and expansions at existing facilities coming online. The Plaquemines LNG terminal is currently exporting at full capacity, while the Corpus Christi Stage 3 terminal has begun shipping gas from six of its seven liquefaction trains. These two projects are expected to increase nominal US LNG export capacity by a combined 4.0 Bcf/d.

The Golden Pass LNG facility also began exports in April this year and is adding another 0.7 Bcf/d of nominal export capacity. The average price at Europe's benchmark Title Transfer Facility (TTF) in the Netherlands stood at USD 14.74 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in the first half of 2026, up from USD 13.10/MMBtu in the same period last year.