Feedgas for U.S. LNG Hits Record

---

Written by Daniel Graeber for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

---

Summary

Data from IIR Energy show feedgas set a record on Monday. That, however, could create a rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul situation domestically.

---

Feed Gas Up More than 35% from 2025

With more export commitments emerging, the amount of feedgas running to the eight operational LNG terminals across the U.S. set a record Monday, data from IIR Energy show.

IIR Energy in its NATGAS Report for Monday showed feedgas reached 19.45 billion cubic feet (Bcf), besting the previous record of 19.3 Bcf set on December 8.

Feedgas levels were closer to 18 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in December, and 14 Bcf/d at this time last year. The federal government estimates the average at 16 Bcf/d for 2026.

It was the Sabine Pass facility, operated by Cheniere Energy (Houston, Texas), and the Plaquemines terminal, controlled by Venture Global (Arlington, Virginia), that supported the volumes. Of those, Sabine Pass is the largest by volume, with a design capacity of 4.5 Bcf/d in feedgas.

But it was the Plaquemines facility, the newest, that's helped lift feedgas levels above expectations since it came online in late 2024. It's designed to process 3.85 Bcf/d into LNG for exports.

By the Numbers

• 19.45 billion cubic feet in feedgas is a record
• 1.3% increase in gas production from 2025 expected
• 4.4% annual increase to 2025

Domestic Demand for Gas Moves Higher

IIR Energy data point to an increase in demand domestically. After a mid-winter thaw, temperatures in the continental U.S. are returning to normal. Dallas residents woke up Monday to temperatures near the freezing mark, while it was closer to 20 degrees Fahrenheit on far-north St. Paul, Minnesota.

"U.S. consumption rebounded from last week, returning above 100 Bcf/d after spending most of last week below 90 Bcf/d," wrote Maria Sanchez, a senior natural gas analyst at IIR Energy.

Much of the demand surge came from the U.S. south, she added.

Increased LNG deliveries could strain domestic supplies. Total U.S. dry natural gas production is expected to average 109.1 Bcf/d this year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That would be a 1.3% increase from last year's average, compared with 4.4% increase annually to 2025.

The wholesale price of natural gas is increasing as a result. Henry Hub, the U.S. benchmark for the price of natural gas, was trading at about $3.30 per million British thermal units early Monday. The federal government expects the price to average $4.01 this year, compared with the average of $2.19 in 2024.

U.S. President Donald Trump, however, has sanctioned a handful of new LNG facilities, from Alaska to the U.S. Gulf Coast, since his return to office in January 2025.

Even More LNG Export Commitments Coming

On Monday, the developers of the planned Coastal Bend LNG facility selected KBR (Houston, Texas) and Tecnicas Reunidas (Madrid, Spain) to develop the front-end engineering and design (FEED) work for the export facility along the Texas coast.

"Upon positive final investment decision, KBR and Tecnicas Reunidas will proceed to execute the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) phase of the project," developers said.

It's listed as a low-probability project in Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project and Plant databases.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project and Plant databases can learn more about Coastal Bend--including capacities, investment values and necessary equipment--in a detailed project report.

If development continues as planned, construction wouldn't start until the first quarter of 2027, with completion expected by 2031. Developers said the facility would include carbon capture and storage technology, along with other technology, to help lessen its impact on the environment.

Key Takeaways

• Feedgas is well above federal estimates.
• LNG is flying off the U.S. shelves.
• It may be costing domestically, however.

---

About IIR News Intelligence
IIR News Intelligence is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resource's Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).