U.S. net natural gas exports in the first half of 2018 were more than double the 2017 average, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on Monday.
The EIA's latest monthly U.S. natural gas imports and exports report said that from January through June of 2018, net natural gas exports from the United States averaged 0.87 billion cubic feet (about 24.64 million cubic meters) per day, more than double the average daily net exports in 2017, which was 0.34 billion cubic feet (about 9.63 million cubic meters) per day.
According to the report, the addition of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in the lower 48 states contributed most to the increase. U.S. exports of LNG through the first half of 2018 rose 58 percent compared with the same period in 2017.
While U.S. LNG exports have continued to grow in 2018, U.S. natural gas pipeline import and export volumes have either remained relatively level or declined from 2017 amounts. The exports of natural gas by pipeline to Mexico increased by 4 percent, and meanwhile, exports of natural gas by pipeline to Canada declined 14 percent.
According to EIA, the United States, which became a net natural gas exporter on an annual basis in 2017 for the first time in almost 60 years, has continued to export more natural gas than it imports for five of the first six months in 2018.
U.S. net natural gas exports are expected to continue rising through the end of 2018 as additional LNG export capacity comes online and as natural gas infrastructure in Mexico is put into service.
Overall net natural gas exports from the United States are expected to average 2.00 billion cubic feet (about 56.63 million cubic meters) in 2018 and 5.80 billion cubic feet (about 164.24 million cubic meters) in 2019.
Editor: Galia
