Highlights



December 2024

• In December 2024, dry natural gas production increased year over year for only the second time in the past 10 months. Preliminary dry natural gas production in December 2024 was 3,278 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 105.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). Production was 0.2% (0.2 Bcf/d) higher in December 2024 than in December 2023 (105.5 Bcf/d). Dry gas production was the highest for the month (and the second highest for any month) since 1973, the earliest year in this data set. Gross withdrawals also increased from December 2023
• Gross withdrawals: 3,996 Bcf for the month, or 128.9 Bcf/d
  • A 0.7% increase compared with December 2023 (128.0 Bcf/d)
• The daily rate of gross withdrawals was the highest for any month since 1980, the earliest year in this data set

• Estimated natural gas consumption in December 2024 was 3,356 Bcf, or 108.3 Bcf/d :
• A 5.6% increase compared with December 2023 (102.5 Bcf/d)
  
• The daily rate of natural gas consumption was the second highest for the month since we began using the current methodology in 2001
  
• The year-over-year average daily rate of dry natural gas consumption in December 2024 increased in each of the four consuming sectors. Natural gas deliveries by consuming sector in December 2024 were:
  
  • Residential deliveries: 760 Bcf for the month, or 24.5 Bcf/d
    
  • A 15.0% increase compared with December 2023 (21.3 Bcf/d)
  
  • Commercial deliveries: 461 Bcf for the month, or 14.9 Bcf/d
    • A 10.8% increase compared with December 2023 (13.4 Bcf/d)
    
  • Industrial deliveries: 798 Bcf for the month, or 25.7 Bcf/d
    • A 1.0% increase compared with December 2023 (25.5 Bcf/d)
    
  • Highest daily rate of industrial deliveries for the month since we began using the current methodology for them in 2001
  
  • Electric power deliveries: 1,033 Bcf for the month, or 33.3 Bcf/d
  • A 1.9% increase compared with December 2023 (32.7 Bcf/d)
  • Highest daily rate of electric power deliveries for the month since we began using the current methodology for them in 2001

• Net natural gas imports (imports minus exports) were -389 Bcf, or -12.5 Bcf/d, in December 2024, making the United States a net natural gas exporter. The United States exported 2.3 times more natural gas than it imported in December 2024. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in December 2024 were 2.8% lower than the daily rate of LNG exported in December 2023; despite this decrease, the daily rate of LNG exports was the second highest for the month since we began tracking LNG exports in 1997. In December 2024, the United States exported 13.3 Bcf/d of LNG to 34 countries. Natural gas imports increased while exports decreased year over year in December 2024:
  
  • Total imports: 309 Bcf for the month, or 10.0 Bcf/d
  • An 11.6% increase compared with December 2023 (8.9 Bcf/d)
  • Highest daily rate of natural gas imports for the month since 2010
  • Total exports: 698 Bcf for the month, or 22.5 Bcf/d
  • A 1.6% decrease compared with December 2023 (22.9 Bcf/d)
  • Despite this decrease, this was the second highest daily rate of natural gas exports for any month since we began tracking them in 1973

  Annual Summary

  This edition of the Natural Gas Monthly includes annual totals for 2024 for the first time:

  • Dry natural gas production decreased 0.3% for the year, from 103.6 Bcf/d in 2023 to 103.2 Bcf/d in 2024. Despite this decrease, total dry natural gas production was the second highest on record for any year since we began tracking it in 1930.
    
  • Estimated natural gas consumption increased 1.1%, from 89.4 Bcf/d in 2023 to 90.3 Bcf/d in 2024. Total natural gas consumption was the highest on record for any year since we began tracking it in 1949.
  • Total imports of natural gas increased 7.1%, from 8.0 Bcf/d in 2023 to 8.6 Bcf/d in 2024. Total natural gas imports were the highest for any year since 2011.
  • Total exports of natural gas increased 1.0%, from 20.8 Bcf/d in 2023 to 21.1 Bcf/d in 2024. LNG exports increased 0.3%, from 11.90 Bcf/d in 2023 to 11.93 Bcf/d in 2024. These annual export totals were the highest on record for any year since we began tracking natural gas exports in 1973.