WASHINGTON, D.C. / RankWire.AI / – According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the nation’s natural gas production is projected to hit an all-time average of 122.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2026. The previous record, set in 2025, was 118.5 Bcf/d. During the first half of 2026, production averaged 121.3 Bcf/d, which is 4%, or 4.6 Bcf/d, higher than the same period in the previous year.
This growth is mainly driven by output in Texas and New Mexico’s Permian Basin and Louisiana and Texas’s Haynesville shale. Permian gas production is expected to reach an average of 29.2 Bcf/d in 2026, marking a 6% rise from 2025. A significant portion of this supply is associated gas produced alongside crude oil. WTI crude oil prices averaged $84 a barrel through July, compared to $65 during 2025.
The increase in Permian gas output is also influenced by the region’s rising gas-to-oil ratio, which measures the volume of natural gas produced relative to crude oil. During the first half of the year, Haynesville production grew by 1.1 Bcf/d, or 7%, compared to the same period last year. For the full year, Haynesville output is forecast to increase by 9%, roughly 1.3 Bcf/d.
Permian and Haynesville Lead Production Gains
Natural gas prices continue to play a crucial role in shaping the production outlook, especially for operators in Haynesville who focus primarily on gas. The EIA expects the Henry Hub spot price to average $3.44 per million British thermal units in 2026, with a third-quarter forecast of $2.87 per MMBtu. Elevated inventories, driven by strong production and reduced LNG feedgas demand, have contributed to this trend, with end-October storage expected to reach a record 3,985 billion cubic feet.
This storage figure surpasses the five-year average by 5% and is 19 Bcf higher than the previous monthly estimate. U.S. dry natural gas production is projected to average 111.19 Bcf/d in 2026, excluding some volumes included in marketed production. For 2027, dry gas output is forecast at 116.04 Bcf/d, while total U.S. natural gas consumption is estimated at 92.03 Bcf/d this year.
Exports Increase as Storage Levels Remain Elevated
In 2026, U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports are expected to average 17.4 Bcf/d, up from 15.1 Bcf/d in 2025. Projections indicate LNG exports could reach 18.6 Bcf/d in 2027. Pipeline exports are forecast to average 9.6 Bcf/d this year, slightly higher than last year’s 9.5 Bcf/d. During the third quarter, LNG exports are predicted to be 16.5 Bcf/d, partly due to maintenance at some Gulf Coast facilities reducing feedgas demand.
From 2009 through 2024—the latest year with comprehensive global data— the United States maintained its position as the world’s largest natural gas producer. The August outlook confirms this dominance with a forecast of another annual production record for 2026. This projection reflects increased output from the country’s two primary growth regions, Permian and Haynesville, whose combined expansion is pushing U.S. marketed natural gas production beyond the record established in 2025.