# U.S. LNG export intensity | PIER20 benchmarks

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. 

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%.

## Summary statistics (full history)

| 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 |
| LNG export share | 0.35 | 14.71 | 0.00 | 16.69 |

## Last 24 readings

| Date | LNG exports | Dry gas production | LNG export share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2024 | 11.88 | 102.73 | 11.56 |
| Jul 2024 | 10.45 | 104.03 | 10.04 |
| Aug 2024 | 11.73 | 103.06 | 11.38 |
| Sep 2024 | 12.10 | 102.33 | 11.83 |
| Oct 2024 | 12.14 | 103.77 | 11.69 |
| Nov 2024 | 12.54 | 103.80 | 12.08 |
| Dec 2024 | 13.25 | 105.68 | 12.54 |
| Jan 2025 | 13.39 | 104.29 | 12.83 |
| Feb 2025 | 14.62 | 104.86 | 13.94 |
| Mar 2025 | 14.76 | 107.32 | 13.76 |
| Apr 2025 | 14.94 | 106.87 | 13.98 |
| May 2025 | 14.04 | 106.52 | 13.18 |
| Jun 2025 | 13.53 | 107.50 | 12.59 |
| Jul 2025 | 14.09 | 108.00 | 13.05 |
| Aug 2025 | 14.55 | 108.65 | 13.39 |
| Sep 2025 | 15.06 | 108.27 | 13.91 |
| Oct 2025 | 16.24 | 107.32 | 15.13 |
| Nov 2025 | 17.50 | 110.27 | 15.87 |
| Dec 2025 | 18.36 | 111.61 | 16.45 |
| Jan 2026 | 17.39 | 108.77 | 15.99 |
| Feb 2026 | 17.63 | 110.68 | 15.93 |
| Mar 2026 | 18.49 | 110.74 | 16.69 |
| Apr 2026 | 17.93 | 110.93 | 16.16 |
| May 2026 | 16.22 | 110.26 | 14.71 |

## How to read this benchmark

**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. 

**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

**What 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). 

## Methodology

- Formula: lngExports / dryGasProduction x 100
- Frequency: Monthly
- Sources: LNG exports (lng-exports) https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9133us2m.htm; Dry gas production (dry-gas) https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9070us1m.htm; LNG export share (lng-share) https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9133us2m.htm. Data via the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
- Data through: May 2026
- Last refreshed: 11 Aug 2026

Full interactive chart: https://pier20.com/benchmarks/us-lng-export-intensity
Disclaimer: research software output, not investment advice.