U.S. gas production rises 5.2% in May, EIA data shows

U.S. natural gas production rose in May, reversing 12 consecutive months when production had fallen from the same month one year earlier. Preliminary data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed production was 92.4 Bcf/d, up 4.6 Bcf/d or 5.2% from May 2020.

Both gross withdrawals and marketed production also increased from May 2020. Gross withdrawals for May were 3,500 Bcf or 112.9 Bcf/d, up 6.1% from a year ago. Marketed production was 3,109 Bcf for the month, or 100.3 Bcf/d, up 6% from May 2020, the EIA reported.

Total gas consumption in May 2021 was 2,100 Bcf, or 67.7 Bcf/d, about 1.4% higher than one year ago. Total gas consumption was the second highest for the month of May since the EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001.

When broken down by sector, consumption of gas in May rose for industrial users and commercial users, but fell for residential and electric power producers.

Residential deliveries were 7.0 Bcf/d, down 8.1% from a year ago. Commercial deliveries were 5.8 Bcf/d, Deliveries of gas to electric power producers reached 26.3 Bcf/d, down 2.2%. Commercial deliveries of gas reached 5.8 Bcf/d, up 12.4%. Industrial users consumed 21.3 Bcf/d, up 5.8% from a year ago.

Total gas imports for May 2021 were 6.6 Bcf/d, up 9.6% from a year ago. Total exports, meanwhile, were 18.5 Bcf/d, up 45.6% from a year ago. LNG exports, in May reached 10.2 Bcf/d, up 73% from a year ago and the highest since the EIA began tracking LNG since 1997. U.S. exports sent cargoes to 31 countries in May 2021.

Total net exports, (exports minus imports) were 11.9 Bcf/d in May, the largest since the EIA began tracking imports and exports since 1973.