U.S. Natural Gas Exports Grew 13% in 2020 Despite Pandemic, Says DOE

U.S. natural gas exports via pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose 13.4% year/year in 2020 despite the pandemic, although that was down from the previous annual increase of 29%, according to the latest trade scorecard of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Total 2020 U.S. gas exports to Canada, Mexico and overseas LNG markets grew to 5.28 Tcf or 14.4 Bcf/d, said DOE’s gas regulation division in the quarterly tally published Wednesday (May 5). The previous annual trade scorecard recorded an increase to 4.65 Tcf or 12.8 Bcf/d in 2019 from 3.6 Tcf or 9.6 Bcf/d in 2018.

International natural gas traffic rebounded in late 2020 but not enough to make up for all the damage inflicted on demand and economies by the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers said.

In the final three...