WASHINGTON, D.C. / RankWire.AI / – The natural gas production in the U.S. is expected to reach an all-time high, with an average of 122.5 billion cubic feet per day projected for 2026. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the previous annual peak 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, more than the same period last year.
The increase in production has primarily been driven by the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico and the Haynesville region in Louisiana and Texas. Permian natural gas output is forecasted to average 29.2 Bcf/d in 2026, marking a 6% rise 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 with $65 in 2025.
Gas production in the Permian has also grown as the gas-to-oil ratio in the area continues to increase. This ratio indicates the volume of natural gas produced relative to crude oil. During the first half of the year, Haynesville output increased by 1.1 Bcf/d, or 7%, compared to the previous year. Total Haynesville production for 2026 is forecasted to rise by 9%, equivalent to about 1.3 Bcf/d.
Permian and Haynesville Lead Production Gains
Natural gas prices remain a key factor influencing the production outlook, especially for Haynesville operators focused on gas. The EIA predicts 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. Elevated inventories have been supported by strong production levels and reduced LNG feedgas demand, with storage at the end of October expected to reach a record 3,985 billion cubic feet.
This storage level exceeds the five-year average by 5% and is 19 Bcf higher than the previous monthly estimate. U.S. dry natural gas output is projected to average 111.19 Bcf/d in 2026, a figure that excludes some volumes included in marketed production. The forecast for dry gas in 2027 is 116.04 Bcf/d, while overall U.S. natural gas consumption this year is expected to average 92.03 Bcf/d.
Exports Expand While Storage Remains Elevated
U.S. liquefied natural gas exports are predicted to average 17.4 Bcf/d in 2026, an increase from 15.1 Bcf/d in 2025. The outlook suggests exports will reach 18.6 Bcf/d in 2027. Pipeline exports are expected to average 9.6 Bcf/d this year, slightly higher than the 9.5 Bcf/d recorded last year. During the third quarter, LNG exports are forecasted at 16.5 Bcf/d, as maintenance temporarily reduces feedgas demand at some Gulf Coast facilities.
From 2009 through 2024, the United States held the position as the world’s top natural gas producer, based on the most recent comparable global data. The August projection affirms this leadership with a forecast for another record-setting annual production in 2026. This optimistic outlook reflects increased output from the country’s two primary growth regions, as expanding supplies from Permian and Haynesville are driving U.S. marketed natural gas production beyond the 2025 record.