What a rising share means
A rising LNG export share means terminals are taking a larger slice of U.S. production, tightening the domestic balance.
Benchmark · monthly · %
U.S. LNG export intensity
What share of U.S. dry gas production is exported as LNG?
U.S. LNG export intensity tracks liquefied natural gas exports as a share of domestic dry gas production. Volumes are converted to Bcf per day before the share is formed. Since the first Gulf Coast cargoes in 2016, LNG exports have grown from a negligible fraction to roughly 15% of production, making the U.S. the world's largest LNG exporter. This page charts both the export and production volumes and the export share.
U.S. LNG export intensity tracks liquefied natural gas exports as a share of domestic dry gas production. Volumes are converted to Bcf per day before the share is formed. Since the first Gulf Coast cargoes in 2016, LNG exports have grown from a negligible fraction to roughly 15% of production, making the U.S. the world's largest LNG exporter. This page charts both the export and production volumes and the export share.
- LNG exports
- 16.22Bcf/day
- Dry gas production
- 110.26Bcf/day
- LNG export share
- 14.7%
- 1Y share change
- +1.5 pp
- from 13.2
- Share percentile
- 98th
- of 353 readings · since 1997-01-01
U.S. LNG export intensity
LNG exports
Dry gas production
| Series | First | Latest | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LNG exports | 0.18 | 16.22 | 0.00 | 18.49 |
| Dry gas production | 52.19 | 110.26 | 44.53 | 111.61 |
How this is calculated
lngExports / dryGasProduction x 100Monthly U.S. LNG exports (EIA N9133US2) and dry gas production (N9070US1), both converted to Bcf per day. The export share is LNG exports divided by dry gas production.
As of May 2026, the latest readings are LNG exports at 16.22%, Dry gas production at 110.26% and LNG export share at 14.71%. The LNG exports line is up 2.2 pp over the past year and above its long-run median of 0.18%.
How to read it
Limitations
Monthly data smooths weekly swings. Treat the chart as context for LNG exports, not investment advice.
How this benchmark is used
The LNG export capacity buildout
Each new liquefaction train adds roughly 0. 7-1. 0 Bcf/day of export demand. The share tracks the cumulative effect of terminal openings on the domestic balance.
Frequently asked questions
4 answersWhat is the current U.S. LNG export intensity?
As of May 2026, the latest readings are LNG exports at 16.22%, Dry gas production at 110.26% and LNG export share at 14.71%. The LNG exports line is up 2.2 pp over the past year and above its long-run median of 0.18%.
How often is this benchmark updated?
This benchmark is built on monthly data. The page is refreshed when the source publishes new observations; the freshness block below the chart shows the exact data-through date and when PIER20 last fetched the file.
What data sources does this chart use?
The chart is built from LNG exports, Dry gas production and LNG export share, sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
How often is the data updated?
Monthly, with the EIA natural gas monthly (roughly 2-month lag).