U.S. marks 13 consecutive months as net exporter of natural gas

The U.S. Energy Information Administration said May 1 that February marked 13 consecutive months for the nation’s natural gas exports to exceed imports.  The U.S. exports natural gas by pipeline to Canada and Mexico and increasingly exports LNG to several other countries.  Exports to Canada tend to be seasonal to be used as heating fuel, and exports to Mexico are steadier throughout the year for power generation and other industrial uses.  The EIA said U.S. net natural gas exports will average 4.7 Bcfd in 2019 and 7.5 Bcfd in 2020.  Much of the recent growth is attributed to increased production from the Permian Basin as new pipelines come online and as new power plants in Mexico begin service.