The Department of Energy Information Agency (EIA) reported that LNG exports had risen by 4.2 % to a total of 9.6 billion cubic feet per day.
New LNG sites were brought on stream at Corpus Christi LNG and Freeport LNG in Texas and Cameron LNG in Louisiana as well as at a plant in Georgia.
According to EIA figures, U.S. export capacity rose by 2.7 billion cu. ft. per day and now stood at 10.8 billion cu. ft., against a background of rising spot prices for standard network gas and LNG in Asia and Europe linked to cold weather.
Further affecting the situation were an increase in demand linked to the easing of Covid restrictions and unplanned shutdowns of LNG plants in Australia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway and Trinidad and Tobago.
Gas and LPG domestic prices have been lower in recent months on the Henry Hub exchange in the United States – further facilitating LNG exports.
Asia has provided the biggest market for U.S. gas – 45 % of the total, followed by Europe at 37 %.
In June, U.S. exports dipped to 9 billion cu. ft. per day in view of servicing fir pipelines, but the EIA stands by its forecast of high export levels by the end of the year.
The all-time maximum of U.S. LNG exports occurred in March- 19.5 billion cu. ft. per day.
