HOUSTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. net natural gas exports in the first half of this year averaged 4.1 billion cubic feet (116 million cubic meters) per day (Bcf/d), more than double the average net exports in 2018, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Tuesday.
The United States exports natural gas by pipeline to neighboring Canada and Mexico and exports liquefied natural gas (LNG) to several other countries. According to EIA, much of the recent increase in total exports is a result of more LNG facilities coming online.
Total U.S. exports of LNG through the first half of 2019 were 37 percent higher than the same period last year. Two new liquefaction units came online in the first half of 2019 and more LNG facilities have come online in the second half of 2019 in the United States, EIA Natural Gas Monthly showed.
Although U.S. LNG exports have grown substantially, most U.S. natural gas trade is transported via pipeline across shared borders with Canada and Mexico.
In the first half of 2019, net exports of natural gas by pipeline to Mexico grew by 5 percent, and net exports of natural gas by pipeline to Canada remained relatively flat.
The United States became a net natural gas exporter on an annual basis in 2017 for the first time in almost 60 years.
According to EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook released earlier this month, net natural gas exports are expected to continue rising through the end of 2019.
