US Natural Gas Production Set to Reach Record High in 2026
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that natural gas production in the United States will reach a new annual record in 2026, averaging 122.5 billion cubic feet per day.
This would surpass the previous record of 118.5 Bcf/d set in 2025 by about 4 Bcf/d, or 3.4%, marking a significant increase in just one year.
The growth is being driven primarily by continued production growth in major shale-producing regions, particularly the Permian Basin, Appalachia, and Haynesville.
Permian gas production is expected to average 29.2 Bcf/d in 2026, a 6% increase from 2025, largely due to associated gas produced during crude oil extraction.