Down sharply from a peak of 8.0 Bcf/d in January, U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) fell sharply to average just 3.1 Bcf/d in July, according to figures published Tuesday by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The 3.1 Bcf/d of exports averaged in July roughly matches the volume exported in May 2018, when total U.S. LNG export capacity was around one third of current capacity, the agency said. 

“During the week of July 12-18, 2020, LNG weekly exports were loaded by only four vessels for a total of 2.0 Bcf/d — the same levels as the second week of December 2016,” EIA said in a research note. 

EIA expects LNG exports “to remain at low levels for the next few months,” with the agency citing reports that “45 cargoes have been canceled for August...