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The US doubled their net gas trade during the first semester 2019

Between January and June 2019, the US net gas sales abroad reached 4.1 bcf/d (116 mcm/d) on average, a level two times superior to the net exports in 2018. According to the EIA, the expansion of US gas trade surplus is mostly due to the increase of LNG exports.

Indeed, over the same period, US LNG exports grew by 37% compared to the first six months of 2018 as the consequence of the entries into service and ramp-up of LNG export teminals. US LNG export capacity is on track to increase from 4.9 bcf/d (137 mcm/d) at the end of 2018 to 8.9 bcf/d (249 mcm/d) by the end of 2019. It reached 5.4 bcf/d (151 mcm/d) in June 2019.

Most US natural gas is sold to Canada and Mexico via pipeline. Net US exports to Mexico by pipeline shipments averaged 4.9 bcf/d (137 mcm/d) during the first six months of 2019 (+9% compared to the first half of 2018), while gas deliveries to Canada remained stable.

The EIA expects US gas net trade to reach 4.6 bcf/d (47.6 bcm/year) in 2019 and 7.2 bcf/d (74.5 bcm/year) in 2020.