EIA: US natgas production and demand will reach record highs by 2025

The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA's) Short-Term Energy Outlook, published on Thursday, said that both the U.S. Natural Gas output and demand would reach record highs by 2025.

EIA projects that dry gas production in 2026 will increase from 103.2 billion cubic feet per day in 2024, to 105.3 in 2025, and 107.1 in 2026. This compares to a record-breaking 103.6 bcfd for 2023.

The agency projected that domestic gas consumption will rise from 90.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2024, to 91.2 in 2025 and then ease back to 90.5 in 2026.

The EIA forecasts for April 2025 are higher than its 105.2 bcfd forecast from March but lower than 92.0 bcfd forecast by the agency in March.

The agency predicted that average U.S. LNG exports in 2025 would be 15.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) and 16.4 billion cubic feet per day in 2026. This is up from 11.9 bcfd, a record in 2024.

The agency predicted that coal production in the United States would decline from 512.1 million short tonnes in 2024 - the lowest level since 1964 - to 489.3 millions tons in 2020 – the lowest level since 1963 – and finally 466.0 million in 2026 – the lowest level since 1962.

EIA predicted that carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from fossil fuels will rise from a low of 4,772 billion metric tonnes in 2024, to 4.812 million metric tones in 2025 due to an increase in coal and natural gas consumption. Then the emissions would decline to 4,741 billion metric tones in 2026 because coal and natural gas usage would decrease. (Reporting and editing by David Gregorio.)

(source: Reuters)