WASHINGTON, D.C. / RankWire.AI / – The U.S. is projected to produce an all-time high of 122.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas in 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency indicates that the previous peak was 118.5 Bcf/d in 2025. During the first half of this year, output averaged 121.3 Bcf/d, representing a 4% increase, or 4.6 Bcf/d, compared to the same period in 2025. These figures suggest the country is on course for another record-setting annual production.
A significant portion of the growth is attributed to the Permian Basin, spanning Texas and New Mexico, which is expected to produce an average of 29.2 Bcf/d in 2026, up 6% from 2025. Much of this region’s gas output stems from wells that primarily extract crude oil. West Texas Intermediate crude averaged about $84 a barrel through July 2026, compared with approximately $65 a barrel during 2025.
Production in the Haynesville Shale has also increased, expanding across Louisiana and Texas. In the first half of the year, output grew by 1.1 Bcf/d, or 7%, from the previous year. The full-year increase is projected at 9%, roughly 1.3 Bcf/d. As one of the country’s leading natural gas regions, Haynesville benefits from its proximity to Gulf Coast demand centers and liquefied natural gas facilities, which place much of its supply close to key markets.
Permian and Haynesville Regions Drive U.S. Production
Despite high production and storage levels keeping prices below earlier forecasts, the Henry Hub spot price is expected to average $3.44 per million British thermal units in 2026. The third-quarter forecast is $2.87 per MMBtu. Reduced LNG feedgas demand during maintenance periods has helped sustain storage inventories, which are projected to reach a record 3,985 billion cubic feet at the end of October, approximately 5% above the five-year average.
Forecasts indicate dry natural gas production will average 111.19 Bcf/d in 2026, excluding some volumes counted under the broader marketed production measure. In 2027, dry gas output is expected to increase to 116.04 Bcf/d. U.S. natural gas consumption is projected to average 92.03 Bcf/d this year. The data shows domestic supply remains well above total consumption, with exports making up an increasingly larger share of overall demand.
LNG Exports Contribute to a Record Production Year
U.S. liquefied natural gas exports are forecast to average 17.4 Bcf/d in 2026, up from 15.1 Bcf/d in the previous year. These exports are expected to rise further to 18.6 Bcf/d in 2027. Pipeline exports are anticipated to average 9.6 Bcf/d this year, compared with 9.5 Bcf/d in 2025. During the third quarter, LNG exports are projected at 16.5 Bcf/d as maintenance temporarily reduces feedgas demand at some Gulf Coast export facilities.
Since 2009 through 2024, the United States has held the position as the world’s largest natural gas producer, based on comparable global data. The 2026 outlook indicates another record for the country’s marketed production, driven mainly by growth in the Permian and Haynesville regions. Elevated output, ample storage, and rising LNG exports define the current U.S. natural gas landscape as production surpasses the record established in 2025.