-- The US posted net natural gas exports of 499.3 billion cubic feet in February, buoyed by strong liquefied natural gas shipments to Europe, the latest data from the Department of Energy showed on Friday.
The Department said total US natural gas exports reached 783.6 Bcf in February, while imports stood at 284.3 Bcf.
LNG accounted for 493.6 Bcf, or 63% of total exports, underscoring the continued dominance of seaborne shipments in the US gas trade.
Europe remained the primary destination, receiving 354.9 Bcf, or 71.9% of LNG exports, followed by Asia at 71.8 Bcf, Africa at 46.4 Bcf, and Latin America and the Caribbean at 20.5 Bcf.
LNG exports fell 8% from January but rose 20.6% compared with February 2025, reflecting year-over-year growth in global demand despite monthly volatility.
The DoE said nearly all LNG exports, about 95.8%, went to non-Free Trade Agreement countries, highlighting continued reliance on spot and contract markets outside traditional trade partners.
The UK, Netherlands, Egypt, Germany, and Turkey were the top five destinations, collectively accounting for 47.3% of total LNG exports.
On pipeline trade, the DoE said the US exported 177.3 Bcf of natural gas to Mexico and imported less than 0.1 Bcf, resulting in net exports of 177.3 Bcf. Trade with Canada, in contrast, resulted in net imports of 169.2 Bcf, with the US exporting 112.7 Bcf and importing 281.8 Bcf.
Overall pipeline exports declined 1% from January and rose 6% from February 2025, while imports from Canada fell 26.7% month-on-month and 16.3% year-on-year.
The DoE said, by mode of transport, LNG shipments via vessel totaled 493.5 Bcf, while pipeline exports reached 290 Bcf. Truck and ISO container flows remained negligible.
On a year-to-date basis, LNG exports reached 1,032.6 Bcf in January-February 2026, up 25% from a year earlier, reinforcing the US position as the world's leading LNG exporter amid sustained European demand and ongoing global energy realignment.