By Curtis Williams
HOUSTON (Reuters) – U.S. LNG plant demand hit a record on Tuesday, the final day of the year, rising to 15.2 billion cubic feet of fuel (bcf) in a sign of a strong year ahead from the start-up of two new processing plants gas. , preliminary data from the financial company LSEG showed.
US natural gas demand for LNG facilities is forecast to rise to 17.8 bcfd next year with the commissioning of Venture Global LNG’s 20 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) Plaquemines plant in Louisiana and the Corpus Phase 3 expansion Christi of Cheniere Energy (NYSE: ) to Texas.
Demand for natural gas from LNG export facilities could spur more U.S. production and boost prices at the country’s main gas exchange in Louisiana, called the Henry Hub, according to analysts. Gas prices rose 48 cents in midday trading Tuesday to $3.94 per million cubic feet (mcf), according to LSEG data.
The USA is the world’s largest exporter of supercooled gas and the main supplier to Europe and Asia. LNG exports and gas demand are also higher in the colder months in the Northern Hemisphere as this improves plant efficiency.
Tuesday marked the third time in two weeks that U.S. LNG demand topped 15 bcfd, but the first time it reached 15.2 bcf, according to LSEG data.
In December, Venture Global and Cheniere announced the first LNG from their expansion projects with Venture Global’s Plaquemines plant delivering the first shipment to Germany.
U.S. LNG demand is expected to rise to 20.3 bcfd in 2026 as new plants ramp up production, rising to 24.2 bcfd in 2028, according to U.S. EIA data. The profit will follow the start of Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture between QatarEnergy and Exxon Mobil (NYSE: ) that is being built off the coast of Texas with first gas expected to be delivered in late 2025 or early 2026.
