U.S. dry natural gas production was 2.23 Tcf in May, a nearly 1% decline from 2.25 Tcf in May 2016, marking a 15th consecutive month of declines compared with year-ago periods, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Domestic dry gas production declines began early last year, and for full-year 2016, production was an estimated 26.5 Tcf (72.4 Bcf/d), down from the record 27.1 Tcf (74.2 Bcf/d) in 2015, but still above the 25.9 Tcf (71.0 Bcf/d) recorded in 2014, according to EIA.

Dry gas production was 2.15 Tcf in April, compared with 2.19 Tcf in April 2016, according to EIA’s latest Natural Gas Monthly report. Output was 2.22 Tcf in March, compared with 2.28 Tcf in March 2016.

Production estimates are based on data from the EIA-914, Monthly Crude Oil, Lease Condensate, and Natural Gas Production Report.

Natural gas consumption also fell in May, reaching 1.88 Tcf, a 4.6% decline compared with 1.97 Tcf in May 2016.

Year-over-year total consumption of dry gas in May increased in three of the four consuming sectors. From May 2016, residential deliveries increased to 201 Bcf from 196 Bcf; commercial deliveries were 178 Bcf, compared with 172 Bcf; and industrial deliveries were 622 Bcf (22.2 Bcf/d), versus 612 Bcf.

Electric power deliveries, on the other hand, were 697 Bcf in May, a 13.5% decrease from 806 Bcf in May 2016, EIA said.

The United States was a net exporter of natural gas for a second consecutive month in May, with total exports reaching 253.9 Bcf, compared with 188.3 Bcf in May 2016. Total natural gas imports in May were 244.1 Bcf, a decline from 248.3 Bcf a year earlier.

The United States in May exported 129.1 Bcf to Mexico via pipelines, compared with 115.6 Bcf in May 2016, and it exported 63.9 Bcf to Canada via pipelines, versus 62.8 Bcf in May 2016. Total liquefied natural gas exports reached 60.8 Bcf in May, a significant increase from May 2016 when it exported 9.9 Bcf, EIA said.