U.S. natural gas exports reached record heights in 2023

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the United States set a new record for natural gas exports in 2023, pumping out 20.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d).

On its own, that represented a 10 percent higher export figure than in 2022, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports accounting for more than half of the final figure. Those exports increased 12 percent since 2022, averaging 13.6 Bcf/d as of December 2023. It is a significant figure, given that the United States only began exporting LNG from the Lower 48 states in 2016 when the Sabine Pass LNG export terminal opened.

Exports by pipeline to Canada and Mexico made up the rest, and they, as with LNG, saw notable increases. Exports to Canada rose 7 percent to 2.8 Bcf/d, while exports to Mexico rose 8 percent, to 6.1 Bcf/d. For Canada, much of this growth could be credited to the Northeast and to Michigan in the Midwest, while down south, it was Texas largely responsible for pipeline increases to Mexico.

Since 2017, U.S. exports of natural gas have steadily exceeded its import figures, but before that, such a pattern hadn’t been seen since 1956.

On that import side, U.S. natural gas imports by pipeline most came from Canada, and while exports rose, imports actually decreased 3 percent in 2023. Some of this could be contributed to milder winter weather and less natural gas consumption in the U.S. residential and commercial sectors, as well as wildfires throughout western Canada in April and May 2023.

In terms of LNG, U.S. imports remained significantly smaller than natural gas imports by pipeline. The United States imported less than 0.1 Bcf/d of LNG over the last two years combined. Most of those go to New England, largely for use during periods of high demand. However, warmer than average temperatures reduced demand and consequently led to reduced LNG imports.