WASHINGTON, D.C. / RankWire.AI / – According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, American natural gas output is projected to hit an all-time high of 122.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2026. The agency notes that the previous peak was 118.5 Bcf/d in 2025. During the first half of this year, production averaged 121.3 Bcf/d, representing a 4% rise, or 4.6 Bcf/d, compared to the same period in 2025. These developments position the U.S. for another record-breaking year in natural gas output.
A significant portion of this growth is attributed to the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. The region’s natural gas production is forecasted to reach an average of 29.2 Bcf/d in 2026, a 6% increase from 2025. Much of the gas produced there originates from wells primarily yielding crude oil. Through July 2026, West Texas Intermediate crude averaged roughly $84 per barrel, compared to about $65 per barrel during 2025.
Production in the Haynesville region has also expanded, with output climbing across Louisiana and Texas. In the first half of the year, production grew by 1.1 Bcf/d, or 7%, from the same period a year earlier. The full-year forecast indicates a 9% rise, roughly 1.3 Bcf/d. Haynesville continues to be one of the nation’s leading natural gas-producing areas, thanks to its proximity to Gulf Coast demand hubs and liquefied natural gas facilities, which place much of its supply close to key markets.
Permian and Haynesville Drive U.S. Gas Supply
Despite high production levels and abundant inventories, natural gas prices have remained below earlier annual forecasts. The EIA anticipates 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. Additionally, reduced LNG feedgas demand during maintenance periods has helped sustain storage levels. As of the end of October, inventories are expected to reach a record 3,985 billion cubic feet, approximately 5% above the five-year average.
Projected dry natural gas production is 111.19 Bcf/d for 2026, excluding some volumes counted within the broader marketed production metric. The forecast for 2027 suggests dry gas output will increase to 116.04 Bcf/d. U.S. natural gas consumption is estimated at an average of 92.03 Bcf/d this year. The data indicates domestic supply remains significantly above total demand, with exports playing an increasingly vital role in the overall market.
LNG Exports Contribute to Record-Setting Year
Forecasts project U.S. liquefied natural gas exports to average 17.4 Bcf/d in 2026, up from 15.1 Bcf/d in 2025. The volume is expected to grow further, reaching 18.6 Bcf/d in 2027. Pipeline exports are also on the rise, with an average of 9.6 Bcf/d anticipated in 2026, compared to 9.5 Bcf/d in 2025. During the third quarter, LNG exports are predicted to be 16.5 Bcf/d, a dip caused by maintenance temporarily reducing feedgas demand at some Gulf Coast export facilities.
From 2009 through 2024, the United States held the position as the world’s largest natural gas producer, based on the latest comparable global data. The 2026 outlook indicates another record for U.S. marketed production, driven chiefly by growth in the Permian and Haynesville regions. Rising output levels, robust storage, and increasing LNG exports collectively define the current U.S. natural gas landscape as it surpasses the record set in 2025.