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US Natural Gas Production, LNG Exports Reach April Highs in 2026, EIA Says

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US dry natural gas production extended its growth streak over the year to 13 months in April, while liquefied natural gas exports reached a record April level, the US Energy Information Administration said Tuesday in its monthly report covering April data.

Dry natural gas production totaled 3,328 billion cubic feet, averaging 110.9 Bcf per day, in April, up 3.8%, or 4 Bcf/d, from a year earlier, according to the EIA.

April production marked the highest daily level ever recorded for the month and the second-highest monthly rate since the dataset began in 1973, the report said.

Gross natural gas withdrawals reached 4,059 Bcf, or 135.3 Bcf/d, rising 3.9% from 130.2 Bcf/d a year earlier. The daily rate also set an April record dating back to 1980.

Estimated natural gas consumption increased 0.5% over the year to 2,389 Bcf, or 79.6 Bcf/d, from 79.2 Bcf/d in April 2025, the EIA added.

Residential deliveries fell 13.8% over the year to 281 Bcf, or 9.4 Bcf/d, the weakest April rate since 2017. Commercial deliveries declined 8.0% over the year to 241 Bcf, or 8 Bcf/d, the lowest April level since 2020.

Industrial deliveries edged up 0.3% over the year to 699 Bcf, or 23.3 Bcf/d, from 23.2 Bcf/d a year earlier, according to the EIA.

Electric power deliveries climbed 8.2% to 898 Bcf, or 29.9 Bcf/d, from 27.7 Bcf/d, reaching the highest April rate since records began in 2001.

Net natural gas exports reached 591 Bcf, or 19.7 Bcf/d, the strongest April daily level since the agency began tracking net trade in 1973, the EIA said.

The US shipped 3.7 times as much natural gas abroad as it imported in April, as exports increased over the year and imports declined, the report said.

Natural gas imports fell 8.1% to 217 Bcf, or 7.2 Bcf/d, from 7.9 Bcf/d a year earlier, the lowest April daily level since 2021.

Natural gas exports rose 11.4% to 808 Bcf, or 26.9 Bcf/d, from 24.2 Bcf/d, marking the highest April daily rate since 1973, EIA data show.

LNG exports increased 20.1% from April 2025 to the highest April daily level since the agency began tracking them in 1997.

The US exported 17.9 Bcf/d of LNG to 35 countries during April, according to the EIA.

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