U.S. liquefied natural gas exports are projected to expand by approximately 10% annually through 2030 as energy companies accelerate efforts to double LNG production capacity, analysts say. This surge offers an impetus for the nation’s shale sector, which has experienced slower growth and rising operational costs in recent years.
As the world’s leading producer of oil and natural gas, the United States has already tapped many of its best drilling sites. As oil production is set to plateau or decline over the next few months, the natural gas sector remains performing well, largely fueled by booming export demand.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. LNG exports will rise from a record 11.9 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2024 to 21.5 bcfd by 2030. Producers are building new terminals that can superchill gas into liquid form to fill growing global energy demand. The growth arrives as countries move away from coal-fired power, fueling a robust international demand for LNG.
U.S. gas producers and investors are positioning themselves to capitalize on the surge in U.S. LNG exports, supported by federal approvals under U.S. President Donald Trump. Analysts anticipate more companies will take advantage of favorable federal permit policies to establish new LNG export plants and related pipelines over the next year.
Overall, the EIA expects U.S. gas production to rise from 103.6 bcfd in 2023 to around 113.5 bcfd by 2030, with the bulk of output meeting LNG export demands. Canada is also projected to supply roughly 7.0 bcfd of pipeline gas to the U.S. annually over the period of five years. Despite growing LNG demand, total U.S. gas consumption, including domestic consumption and exports, is anticipated to grow by just 1% annually, from 111.5 bcfd in 2024 to about 120.3 bcfd in 2030.
Domestic consumption is expected to decline slightly, dropping from a record 90.5 bcfd in 2024 to approximately 89.6 bcfd in 2030, primarily due to reduced gas use in power generation as renewable energy output rises. However, some analysts foresee greater gas use by U.S. power plants than EIA projections, driven by increasing electricity demand from data centers.
To support this expansion, new pipelines and infrastructure are essential. Several major U.S. pipeline companies have already committed billions to build hundreds of miles of new pipelines to deliver gas to domestic markets as well as international markets.