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US May Natural Gas Net Exports Hit 584.1 Bcf

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US natural gas exports totaled 816.6 billion cubic feet in May 2026, while imports totaled 232.5 Bcf, resulting in net exports for the month of 584.1 Bcf, the US Department of Energy said on Friday.

Liquefied natural gas exports totaled 502.8 Bcf, accounting for 61.6% of all US natural gas exports, with shipments reaching 33 countries. LNG exports fell 6.5% from April but were 15.5% higher than in May 2025.

Europe remained the largest regional destination for US LNG, receiving 232.0 Bcf, or 46.1% of total exports, followed by Asia at 207.6 Bcf (41.3%), Africa at 36.2 Bcf (7.2%), and Latin America and the Caribbean at 27.1 Bcf (5.4%).

The DOE said 84.2% of May US LNG exports went to countries without a US free trade agreement, while the remaining 15.8% were shipped to free trade agreement partners.

The top five LNG destinations accounted for 47.5% of total US LNG exports in May. Shipments to the five countries rose 15.4% from April but edged down 0.5% from a year earlier. The Netherlands was the largest destination at 63.6 Bcf, followed by South Korea at 49.5 Bcf, Italy at 46.7 Bcf, Japan at 42.5 Bcf and Egypt at 36.2 Bcf.

In North America, exports by pipeline to Mexico totaled 224.2 Bcf in May, while imports from Mexico were less than 0.1 Bcf, resulting in net exports of 224.2 Bcf. Exports to Mexico declined 3.5% from April and 17.2% from May 2025.

Trade with Canada showed a net import balance. The US exported 89.6 Bcf of natural gas to Canada while importing 232.0 Bcf, resulting in net imports of 142.4 Bcf.

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