The Energy Information Administration expects the United States to export 14.9 billion cubic feet per day of LNG this year, which is 25 percent more than last year.
EIA said in its newest short—term energy outlook on Wendesday that Venture Global LNG’s Plaquemines LNG terminal in Louisiana has ramped up exports more quickly than the agency expected, leading it to raise its forecast of LNG exports in the fourth quarter.
Plaquemines LNG in Louisiana received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to introduce natural gas into Block 17, “bringing the last remaining block at the 2.6 Bcf/d terminal into LNG production earlier than January 2026, which is what we previously expected,” the agency said.
“With this capacity online earlier than expected, we raised our forecast for LNG exports in 4Q25 by percent compared with last month’s outlook,” EIA said.
Moreover, the agency expects US LNG exports to increase by an additional 10 percent in 2026.
“We expect Golden Pass LNG Trains 1–2 and Corpus Christi Stage 3 Blocks 4–7 will begin shipping cargoes in 2026, adding 2.1 Bcf/d of LNG export capacity by the end of the year,” the agency said.
Henry Hub
EIA said the US benchmark Henry Hub spot price in its forecast averages $3.90 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) over this winter season (November–March), peaking in January at $4.25/MMBtu.
“Natural gas prices typically rise during the winter as demand for space heating increases and consumption of natural gas peaks for the year. This winter, we expect rising LNG exports to increase demand for US natural gas as well,” it said.
This October, US inventories ended the month about the same as last year and 4 percent above the five-year average (2020–2024), EIA noted.
“Despite similar inventory levels, the October monthly Henry Hub price averaged about $3.20/MMBtu, up 45 percent from the same month last year,” EIA said.
The agency expects prices to average $4.00/MMBtu in 2026, up 16 percent from this year.
