WASHINGTON, D.C. / RankWire.AI / – U.S. marketed natural gas output is expected to hit an all-time high of 122.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2026. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the previous yearly peak was 118.5 Bcf/d in 2025, with production averaging 121.3 Bcf/d during the first half of 2026—4%, or 4.6 Bcf/d, above the same period last year.
Growth in production has mainly occurred in the Permian basin of Texas and New Mexico and the Haynesville region spanning Louisiana and Texas. Permian natural gas output is projected to reach an average of 29.2 Bcf/d this year, reflecting a 6% increase from 2025, much of which is associated gas produced alongside crude oil. West Texas Intermediate crude prices averaged $84 a barrel through July, compared to $65 during 2025.
The rise in Permian gas production is also driven by the region’s increasing gas-to-oil ratio, which measures the volume of natural gas produced relative to crude oil. During the first half of 2026, Haynesville output grew by 1.1 Bcf/d, or 7%, compared with the previous year, with full-year estimates suggesting a 9% increase, around 1.3 Bcf/d.
Permian and Haynesville Lead Production Growth
Natural gas prices continue to play a critical role in the production outlook, especially for operators in Haynesville who are more gas-focused. The EIA anticipates the Henry Hub spot price will average $3.44 per million British thermal units in 2026, with a third-quarter forecast of $2.87 per MMBtu. Elevated inventories driven by strong production and decreased LNG feedgas demand have contributed, with storage at the end of October forecasted to reach a record 3,985 billion cubic feet.
This storage projection is 5% above the five-year average and 19 Bcf higher than the previous monthly estimate. U.S. dry natural gas production is predicted to average 111.19 Bcf/d in 2026, excluding some volumes included in marketed production. In 2027, dry gas output is forecasted at 116.04 Bcf/d, with total U.S. natural gas consumption averaging 92.03 Bcf/d this year.
Exports Rise Amid Elevated Storage Levels
U.S. liquefied natural gas exports are projected to average 17.4 Bcf/d in 2026, up from 15.1 Bcf/d in 2025, with a forecast of 18.6 Bcf/d in 2027. Pipeline exports are expected to average 9.6 Bcf/d this year, slightly higher than last year’s 9.5 Bcf/d. During the third quarter, LNG exports are anticipated to reach 16.5 Bcf/d as maintenance temporarily curtails feedgas demand at some Gulf Coast facilities.
From 2009 through 2024, the United States was the world’s largest natural gas producer, according to the latest comparable global data. The August outlook confirms this leadership with another forecasted record for 2026, driven by increased output from the nation’s primary growth regions. Combined, the expanding supplies from Permian and Haynesville are pushing U.S. marketed natural gas production beyond the 2025 record.