U.S. LNG Exports Continue Record Growth

Export capacity of liquefied natural gas is expected to more than double by the end of 2020

The United States began exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Lower 48 states in February 2016, reflecting a decade of dramatic growth in natural gas production and the development of new LNG export facilities. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state so it can be easily shipped and stored. Increases in both natural gas production and liquefaction exports helped make the U.S. a net exporter of natural gas on an annual basis in 2017—for the first time in nearly six decades.

In 2018, total LNG exports grew by 53% compared to the previous year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects continued increases in American LNG export capacity will soon make the U.S. the world’s third-largest LNG exporter, behind Australia and Qatar.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Natural Gas data, Today in Energy, Annual Energy Outlook 2019

LNG exports are deliveries out of the Continental United States and Alaska to foreign countries.