WASHINGTON, D.C. / RankWire.AI / – Projected U.S. marketed natural gas output is heading toward an all-time average of 122.5 billion cubic feet daily in 2026, according to recent forecasts. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that the previous yearly peak was 118.5 Bcf/d in 2025, with production during the first half of 2026 averaging 121.3 Bcf/d, which is 4%, or 4.6 Bcf/d, higher than the same period last year.
Growth in production has primarily been concentrated in the Permian basin, spanning Texas and New Mexico, along with the Haynesville region across Louisiana and Texas. The Permian’s natural gas output is expected to reach an average of 29.2 Bcf/d this year, reflecting a 6% increase from 2025. Much of this supply results from associated gas produced alongside crude oil, with West Texas Intermediate crude averaging $84 a barrel through July—significantly higher than the $65 recorded during 2025.
The rise in Permian gas output is also driven by the region’s increasing gas-to-oil ratio, which indicates the amount of natural gas produced in relation to crude oil. In the first half of this year, Haynesville production grew by 1.1 Bcf/d, or 7%, compared to the previous year, and the forecast for total Haynesville output in 2026 is expected to increase by 9%, approximately 1.3 Bcf/d.
Permian and Haynesville fuel growth in production
The outlook for natural gas output remains heavily influenced by prices, especially for operators in the gas-centric Haynesville region. The EIA anticipates the Henry Hub spot price to average $3.44 per million British thermal units in 2026, with a third-quarter projection of $2.87 per MMBtu. Elevated production levels coupled with diminished LNG feedgas demand have contributed to higher inventories, with end-October storage expected to reach a record 3,985 billion cubic feet.
This storage projection exceeds the five-year average by 5% and is 19 Bcf above the previous monthly forecast. U.S. dry natural gas production is projected to average 111.19 Bcf/d in 2026, a figure that excludes some volumes included in marketed production. Forecasted dry gas output for 2027 is 116.04 Bcf/d, while total U.S. natural gas consumption is estimated at 92.03 Bcf/d for this year.
Exports increase amid sustained high storage levels
Exports of liquefied natural gas from the U.S. are forecasted to average 17.4 Bcf/d in 2026, representing an increase from 15.1 Bcf/d in 2025, with projections for 2027 reaching 18.6 Bcf/d. Pipeline exports are expected to average 9.6 Bcf/d this year, slightly up from 9.5 Bcf/d in the previous year. During the third quarter, LNG exports are anticipated at 16.5 Bcf/d, partly due to maintenance that reduces feedgas demand at some Gulf Coast facilities.
From 2009 through 2024, the United States held the position as the world’s leading natural gas producer, according to the latest comparable global data. The August outlook confirms this status with another forecasted record for 2026. The current projection highlights increased production from the country’s two primary growth regions. Together, expanding supplies from Permian and Haynesville are driving U.S. marketed natural gas production beyond the 2025 record.