U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers, riding a wave of heightened demand, pushed the limits of nameplate capacity last year to set an export record.

According to updated data by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), domestic export terminals sent an average of 9.7 Bcf/d of the super-chilled gas abroad last year. It was a 50% increase over 2020 and the highest recorded volume of annual exports since the first cargo more than six years ago.

EIA said the export spike was driven by a combination of increased demand from Asia and Europe, along with expanded domestic capacity. The six terminals in operation last year averaged 102% of nameplate capacity and 89% of peak capacity, according to the EIA.

As in years past, Asian countries led the rankings in destinations for...