WASHINGTON, D.C. / RankWire.AI / – Projected to hit an all-time high, U.S. marketed natural gas production is expected to average 122.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2026. The U.S. Energy Information Administration indicated that the previous record was 118.5 Bcf/d in 2025. 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.
The main driver of this growth has been the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico along with the Haynesville region in Louisiana and Texas. Permian natural gas output is projected to reach an average of 29.2 Bcf/d this year, representing a 6% increase from 2025. Much of this supply results from associated gas produced alongside crude oil. Through July, West Texas Intermediate crude averaged $84 a barrel, compared to $65 during 2025.
Gas production in Permian has also risen as the region’s gas-to-oil ratio continues to climb. This ratio measures the volume of natural gas produced relative to crude oil. Meanwhile, Haynesville output increased by 1.1 Bcf/d, or 7%, in the first half of the year compared to the previous year. The full-year production in Haynesville is forecast to grow by 9%, roughly 1.3 Bcf/d.
Permian and Haynesville Regions Lead Production Gains
The outlook for natural gas production heavily relies on prices, especially for operators in the gas-centric Haynesville area. The EIA predicts that the Henry Hub spot price will average $3.44 per million British thermal units in 2026, with a third-quarter forecast of $2.87 per MMBtu. Increased production combined with decreased LNG feedgas demand has resulted in higher inventories, with storage at the end of October projected to reach a record 3,985 billion cubic feet.
This storage figure is 5% above the five-year average and 19 Bcf higher than the previous monthly estimate. U.S. dry natural gas production is expected to average 111.19 Bcf/d in 2026, excluding certain volumes included in marketed production. The forecast for 2027 is 116.04 Bcf/d, while total U.S. natural gas consumption this year is anticipated to be 92.03 Bcf/d.
Exports Increase as Storage Levels Remain Elevated
Exports of liquefied natural gas from the U.S. are predicted to average 17.4 Bcf/d in 2026, an increase from 15.1 Bcf/d in 2025. The forecast indicates that LNG exports will reach 18.6 Bcf/d in 2027. Additionally, pipeline exports are expected to average 9.6 Bcf/d this year, compared with 9.5 Bcf/d during the previous year. During the third quarter, LNG exports are projected at 16.5 Bcf/d, partly due to maintenance that reduces feedgas demand at some Gulf Coast facilities.
From 2009 through 2024, the United States was the world’s leading natural gas producer, based on comparable global data from that year. The August outlook reaffirms this position by forecasting another record year for production in 2026. The latest estimate highlights increased output from the country’s two main growth areas. Combined, expanding Permian and Haynesville supplies are pushing U.S. marketed natural gas production past the record established in 2025.