U.S. EIA LNG Export Weekly Update June 7th, 2018

On June 7th, 2018 the U.S. Energy Information Administration released the Natural Gas Weekly Update.

The update noted U.S. LNG exports increased week over week. Six LNG vessels (combined LNG-carrying capacity 21.8 Bcf) departed the U.S. from May 31 through June 6—four tankers from Sabine Pass liquefaction terminal (combined LNG-carrying capacity 14.9 Bcf) and two tankers from Cove Point terminal (combined LNG-carrying capacity 6.9 Bcf). One tanker (LNG-carrying capacity 3.8 Bcf) was loading at the Sabine Pass terminal on Wednesday.

The EIA reported the amount of U.S. natural gas exported as LNG averaged 2.6 Bcf/d equivalent in the first quarter of 2018, 1.0 Bcf/d (62%) more than in the same period last year. EIA expects the U.S. to have a total liquefaction capacity of 9.6 Bcf/d by the end of 2020.

U.S. exports of natural gas, including exports via pipeline and as LNG averaged 9.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in the first quarter of this year, according to EIA’s most recent Natural Gas Monthly report. This level of exports is 0.7 Bcf/d (8%) more than in the first quarter of 2017, and 3.8 Bcf/d (66%) more than in the first quarter of 2016.

The EIA reported the U.S. was a net exporter of natural gas in the first quarter of 2018, with net exports averaging 0.6 Bcf/d. In 2017 as a whole, the United States was a net exporter of natural gas for the first time since 1957.