| In 2009, net U.S. imports of natural gas were the lowest since 1994, representing just 12 percent of total consumption. The primary underlying cause for the lower level of net imports was continued strong levels of natural gas production in the lower 48 States. Dry natural gas production increased 3.3 percent compared with 2008 and was nearly 9 percent higher than in 2007. With these recent gains in domestic production, the United States is now the largest producer of natural gas in the world. U.S. domestic consumption decreased in 2009, which in turn contributed to a reduced demand for imports. Although liquefied natural gas (LNG) gross imports increased almost 30 percent (from a 5-year low established in 2008), LNG remains a very small source of supplies for the United States, accounting for less than 2 percent of consumption.
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2009 Highlights
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- Gross imports (including both natural gas transported by pipeline and LNG) continued to decline in 2009 after a relatively large decrease in 2008. As a result, gross imports were nearly 850 Bcf lower in 2009 than in 2007. Net imports, which reached a recent peak as a portion of consumption at 16 percent in 2007, represented only 12 percent of total domestic consumption, at a total of 2.7 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), in 2009. The decrease in net imports resulted from a decline in gross imports and an increase in gross exports.
- With the increase in natural gas production, import and export prices were both more than 50 percent lower in 2009. Monthly average prices peaked in January and then declined significantly during the year to the lowest prices seen in the natural gas market since 2002.
- Despite the decrease in total imports in 2009, two new significant import facilities came on line. The first facility was at Galvan Ranch in Texas, which receives natural gas from Mexico via pipeline. The other new facility is Cameron LNG in Louisiana. The addition of Cameron LNG now brings the number of LNG receiving facilities supplying natural gas to U.S. markets up to eight.
- In 2009, the United States exported a small volume of LNG to South Korea for the first time. The main recipients of U.S. natural gas exports continue to be Japan and Mexico. Japan receives about 92 percent of U.S. LNG exports.
- Natural gas exports from Trinidad and Tobago declined in 2009, but the country is still the largest exporter of LNG to the United States. Egypt almost tripled its exports to the United States and remains the second largest source of LNG.
- In 2009, net imports from Canada via pipeline decreased 15 percent. Canada is still the largest exporter of natural gas to the United States, accounting for 99 percent of total U.S imports of natural gas by pipeline.
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| Contact: Damien Gaul (Damien.Gaul@eia.gov or 202-586-2073) or Lance Stewart (Lance.Stewart@eia.gov or 202-586-8926)
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| Tables |
| SR1. |
Historical Summary of U.S. Natural Gas Net Imports, 1955-2009 |
| SR2. |
Summary of U.S. Natural Gas Imports, 2008-2009 |
| SR3. |
Summary of U.S. Natural Gas Exports, 2008-2009 |
| SR4. |
Historical Summary of U.S. Natural Gas Imports, 1955-2009 |
| SR5. |
Historical Summary of U.S. Natural Gas Exports, 1955-2009 |
| SR6. |
U.S. Natural Gas Imports by Point of Entry, 2008-2009 |
| SR7. |
Summary of U.S. Natural Gas Imports, 1978-2009 |
| SR8. |
U.S. Natural Gas Exports by Point of Exit, 2008-2009 |
| SR9. |
Summary of U.S. Natural Gas Exports, 1978-2009 |
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Download All Tables |
| Figures |
| SR1. |
Flow of Natural Gas Imports and Exports, 2009 |
| SR2. |
Net Imports as Percentage of Domestic Consumption, 1995-2009 |
| SR3. |
U.S. Natural Gas Imports and Exports, 1995-2009 |
| SR4. |
U.S. Natural Gas Import & Export Prices, 2008-2009 |
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