BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports will average 12 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2024, Trend reports.
According to the agency, this marks a small 2-percent increase from last year. This trend is expected to continue into 2025, with exports rising by an additional 2 Bcf/d (18 percent) as more LNG export projects come online.
The EIA forecasts that US LNG export facilities will operate at similar levels as in 2023, factoring in seasonal adjustments and annual maintenance. However, in April and May 2024, LNG exports may dip compared to the same period in 2023 due to maintenance at the Freeport LNG export facility coinciding with lower global demand for LNG during the shoulder season.
Later in 2024, LNG production is expected to ramp up with the launch of Plaquemines LNG Phase I and Corpus Christi Stage 3. In 2025, the Golden Pass LNG project plans to put the first two trains of its new facility into service, further boosting LNG exports.
Additionally, the EIA predicts that US natural gas exports via pipeline will grow by almost 1 Bcf/d over the forecast period, driven mainly by increased exports to Mexico.
Several pipelines connecting to the Energía Mayakan pipeline on the Yucatán Peninsula are expected to reach full service in 2024‒25, enhancing natural gas delivery to Mexico. Furthermore, flows via the Sur de Texas-Tuxpan underwater pipeline are expected to increase slightly in 2024, supporting Mexico's first LNG export project: Fast LNG Altamira.