Natural Gas

Highlights



July 2019

• In July 2019, for the 27th consecutive month, dry natural gas production increased year to year for the month. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in July 2019 was 2,830 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 91.3 Bcf/d. This level was 7.9 Bcf/d (9.5%) higher than the July 2018 level of 83.4 Bcf/d. The average daily rate of dry production was the highest for any month since EIA began tracking monthly dry production in 1997.
• The estimated natural gas consumption in July 2019 was 2,385 Bcf, or 76.9 Bcf/d. This level was 1.5 Bcf/d (1.9%) higher than the 75.5 Bcf/d consumed in July 2018. Natural gas consumption for July was the highest level for the month since 2001, when EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors.
• Year-over-year total consumption of dry natural gas in July 2019 increased in three of the four consuming sectors. Deliveries of natural gas by consuming sector in July 2019 were:
  
  • Residential deliveries: 113 Bcf, or 3.6 Bcf/d, which was up 7.6% compared with 3.4 Bcf/d in July 2018. Residential deliveries were the highest for the month since 2011.
  • Commercial deliveries: 142 Bcf, or 4.6 Bcf/d, which was up 5.2% compared with 4.4 Bcf/d in July 2018. Commercial deliveries were the highest for the month since 1997.
  • Industrial deliveries: 639 Bcf, or 20.6 Bcf/d, which was down 2.4% compared with 21.1 Bcf/d in July 2018. Despite this decrease, industrial deliveries were the second highest for the month since EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001.
  • Electric power deliveries: 1,267 Bcf, or 40.9 Bcf/d, which was up 2.5% compared with 39.9 Bcf/d in July 2018. Electric power deliveries were the highest for any month since EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001.
• Net natural gas imports (imports minus exports) were -161 Bcf, or -5.2 Bcf/d, in July 2019, making the United States a net exporter. Total imports were 7.4 Bcf/d, a decrease of 6.9% compared with 8.0 Bcf/d in July 2018. Total exports were 12.6 Bcf/d, an increase of 27.8% compared with 9.9 Bcf/d in July 2018. Natural gas exports were the highest for any month since EIA began tracking monthly exports in 1973. The increase in exports continues to be driven by liquefied natural gas (LNG). LNG exports in July 2019 were 60.2% higher than in July 2018. In July 2019, the United States exported 5.1 Bcf/d of LNG to 21 countries. The average daily rate of LNG exports was the highest for any month since EIA began tracking them in 1997.