The United States produced 110.3 billion cubic feet of dry natural gas per day in May 2026, the highest daily output for the month of May since records began in 1973, according to the July edition of the Natural Gas Monthly released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Preliminary data showed production climbed 3.5% year-over-year, rising from 106.5 Bcf/d in May 2025, marking the 14th consecutive month of annual gains. The report detailed natural gas supply, demand, pricing, and trade flows across the country, revealing record-breaking activity in production, exports, and several consumption categories.
Gross withdrawals of natural gas reached 134.0 Bcf/d in May 2026, a 3.2% jump from 129.8 Bcf/d the previous May and the highest daily rate for any May since 1980. Overall consumption totaled 75.8 Bcf/d, up 1.9% from 74.5 Bcf/d in May 2025 and the highest daily consumption for May since 2001. Residential deliveries held steady at 6.1 Bcf/d year-over-year, while commercial deliveries dipped 1.6% to 6.1 Bcf/d from 6.2 Bcf/d, though this still represented the second-highest daily rate for May since 2002. Industrial deliveries increased 0.9% to 22.5 Bcf/d, the highest for any May since 2001, and electric power deliveries surged 3.3% to 32.4 Bcf/d, the second-highest for May since 2001.
Net exports of natural gas set a May record at 19.1 Bcf/d, as the nation exported 3.6 times more gas than it imported. Total exports climbed 11.0% year-over-year to 26.4 Bcf/d, the highest daily export rate for May since tracking began in 1973, while imports fell 7.1% to 7.2 Bcf/d. Liquefied natural gas shipments drove much of the export growth: LNG exports in May 2026 ran 15.6% higher than the prior May at 16.2 Bcf/d, reaching 34 countries and setting the highest LNG export rate for any May since the EIA began monitoring those flows in 1997. The report noted that dry natural gas production, gross withdrawals, and total exports all posted their highest May levels on record for their respective datasets.
The sustained rise in production and exports reflects growing domestic output capacity and international demand for U.S. natural gas, particularly in liquefied form. The year-over-year increase in electric power deliveries occurred even as commercial use edged down, illustrating how gas-fired generation continues to absorb a larger share of supply. The combination of higher production, lower imports, and surging exports widened the nation's net export position to levels not previously seen for the month of May. Industrial deliveries reached a May high, suggesting steady demand from manufacturing and petrochemical sectors despite modest declines in the commercial segment.
The report provided no explicit forward-looking projections, but the 14-month streak of production gains and record export volumes signal that U.S. natural gas output and overseas shipments remain on an upward trajectory. With LNG export capacity expanding and domestic production continuing to grow, the United States is positioned to supply more gas to global markets while meeting rising power-sector demand at home. The May 2026 data underscores the country's role as a leading natural gas producer and exporter, with production, export, and consumption metrics all tracking near or at historical highs for the month.