Highlights



April 2021

• In April 2021, for the 12th consecutive month, dry natural gas production decreased year over year for the month. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in April 2021 was 2,776 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 92.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). This level was 0.4 Bcf/d (-0.4%) lower than the April 2020 level of 92.9 Bcf/d. Despite this year-over-year decrease in dry production, both gross withdrawals and marketed production increased from April 2020:
  
  • Gross withdrawals: 3,396 Bcf for the month, or 113.2 Bcf/d
    • Up 0.7% compared with 112.4 Bcf/d in April 2020. Gross withdrawals were the highest for the month since EIA began tracking them in 1980.
  • Marketed production: 3,013 Bcf for the month, or 100.4 Bcf/d
  • Up 0.4% compared with 100.1 Bcf/d in April 2020. Marketed production was the highest for the month since we began tracking it in 1973.
• Estimated natural gas consumption in April 2021 was 2,244 Bcf, or 74.8 Bcf/d. This level was essentially flat compared with April 2020. Natural gas consumption was the third-highest for the month since we began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001.
• The year-over-year average daily rate of consumption of dry natural gas in April 2021 increased in two of the four consuming sectors and decreased in the other two. Deliveries of natural gas by consuming sector in April 2021 were as follows:
  
  • Residential deliveries: 340 Bcf for the month, or 11.3 Bcf/d
    • Down 9.3% compared with 12.5 Bcf/d in April 2020
  • Commercial deliveries: 245 Bcf for the month, or 8.2 Bcf/d
  • Up 3.4% compared with 7.9 Bcf/d in April 2020
  • Industrial deliveries: 680 Bcf for the month, or 22.7 Bcf/d
  • Up 5.6% compared with 21.5 Bcf/d in April 2020
  • Second-highest for the month (since 2001)
  • Electric power deliveries: 754 Bcf for the month, or 25.1 Bcf/d
  • Down 1.3% compared with 25.5 Bcf/d in April 2020
  • Second-highest for the month (since 2001)