How to Read the EIA Natural Gas Monthly — Production, Consumption, Net Exports and the Balancing Item
EIA Natural Gas Monthly (October 30, 2026), August 2026: dry production 3,591 Bcf (115.84 Bcf/d, +6.6% y/y), consumption 2,810 Bcf (+6.2%), net exports 607 Bcf, balancing item -59 Bcf.
Key figures (Natural Gas Monthly, October 2026 issue with data for August 2026)
As of 2 November 2026, 01:32 KST; most recently published report: the October 2026 Natural Gas Monthly from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data for August 2026. The report page shows a release date of October 30, 2026 and a next release scheduled for November 30, 2026; the sources used give no time of day. Primary source: https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/monthly/pdf/table_01.pdf[1][2]
| Indicator (United States, billion cubic feet in the month) | Previous (July 2026) | Current (August 2026) | Change vs previous | Change vs year ago (August 2025) | Evidence type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry natural gas production | 3,538 (revised estimate) | 3,591 (estimate) | +1.5% (calculated) | 3,368; 6.6% higher (published); +6.6% (calculated) | levels and published change: EIA primary statistical record; calculated %: this page's calculation |
| Gross withdrawals | 4,261 (revised estimate) | 4,310 (estimate) | +1.1% (calculated) | 4,066; 6.0% increase (published, daily rate); +6.0% (calculated) | levels and published change: EIA primary statistical record; calculated %: this page's calculation |
| Consumption | 2,787 (revised) | 2,810 | +0.8% (calculated) | 2,647 (revised); 6.2% increase (published, daily rate); +6.2% (calculated) | levels and published change: EIA primary statistical record; calculated %: this page's calculation |
| Net exports | 583 | 607 | +4.1% (calculated) | 524; +15.8% (calculated) | levels: EIA primary statistical record; calculated %: this page's calculation |
| Net storage withdrawals | -142 | -123 | net injection 19 smaller | -186; net injection 63 smaller | levels: EIA primary statistical record (negative net storage withdrawals mean net injection into storage) |
| Balancing item | -34 (revised) | -59 | 25 more negative | -19 (revised); 40 more negative | levels: EIA primary statistical record (a negative balancing item is not a storage injection) |
Comparison basis: levels are monthly volumes in billion cubic feet (Bcf) from Table 1, with the flags printed there (E estimated, R revised, RE revised estimated). The highlights compare daily rates (Bcf per day); July and August both have 31 days, so the percentage changes are the same for totals and daily rates. Published changes are to one decimal; this page's calculated changes are rounded half up to one decimal and match the published ones checked here. The table and report page are both EIA publications and count as one source.[1][2]
In three lines
1. The EIA Natural Gas Monthly balances U.S. natural gas supply (production, supplemental fuels, storage withdrawals) against disposition (consumption and net exports), with a balancing item for what does not reconcile.
2. In August 2026, dry production was 3,591 Bcf (115.84 Bcf/d), 6.6% above a year earlier and, per EIA, the highest daily rate for any month since 1973.
3. Consumption was 2,810 Bcf (up 6.2% in daily terms) and net exports 607 Bcf, the highest for any August since 1973.[1][2]
What the report says (in EIA's words)
"In August 2026, dry natural gas production increased year over year for the 18th straight month." "Preliminary dry natural gas production in August 2026 was 3,591 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 115.84 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d)." "Production was 6.6% (7.19 Bcf/d) higher in August 2026 than in August 2025 (108.65 Bcf/d)." "Daily dry natural gas production was the highest for any month since 1973, the earliest year in this dataset."[2]
The highlights put estimated consumption at 2,810 Bcf, or 90.65 Bcf/d, a 6.2% increase from August 2025 (85.39 Bcf/d). "The year-over-year average daily rate of dry natural gas consumption in August 2026 decreased in two of the consuming sectors and increased in the other two." Electric power deliveries were 1,556 Bcf (50.19 Bcf/d), a 9.9% increase from August 2025 in daily terms.[2]
Imports were 234 Bcf and exports 841 Bcf. "This net export daily volume was the highest for the month of August since we began tracking net trade in 1973." "In August 2026, the United States exported 16.61 Bcf/d of LNG to 34 countries."[2]
Reading in pairs
Supply vs disposition (balancing item). For August 2026, dry production (3,591) plus supplemental gaseous fuels (9) plus net storage withdrawals (-123) plus the balancing item (-59), minus net exports (607), gives 2,811 Bcf (this page's calculation), against published consumption of 2,810; the difference is within rounding. EIA describes the balancing item: "Represents quantities lost and imbalances in data due to differences among data sources." The cited Table 1 and highlights do not provide an August-specific breakdown; the table footnote adds: "Appendix A, Explanatory Note 7, contains a full discussion of balancing item calculations."[1]
Monthly totals vs daily rates. The highlights quote daily rates (for example 115.84 Bcf/d, which is 3,591 Bcf over 31 days), while Table 1 gives monthly totals. For months of different length, comparisons of totals and of daily rates give different percentage changes. EIA adds: "Derived numbers may differ from those reported in the tables due to independent rounding."[1][2]
Records vs the start of each dataset. The production record is described as the highest daily rate since 1973, the earliest year in that dataset, while the consumption comparison runs only from 2001 and the electric power deliveries comparison from 2001. In this page's reading, statements of the highest level since a given year are bounded by where each series begins, so they are not comparable across series.[1][2]
Estimated vs final. "Data for 2021 through 2024 are final." "All other data are preliminary unless otherwise indicated." Production for June and July 2026 is marked revised estimated (RE), August production estimated (E), and most 2025 and 2026 consumption figures revised (R), so these values can change in later issues. In this table, no numeric error measure is provided.[1]
Storage before and after 2024. The storage footnote says: "Data for January 2024 forward include underground storage only." Data for 2021 through 2023 also include liquefied natural gas storage, so net storage withdrawals before and after January 2024 are not measured the same way. Year to date, January-August 2026 net exports were 4,621 Bcf, 26.5% above the same months of 2025, while consumption was 0.4% higher (this page's calculations).[1]
Verified facts
Each fact is labelled with its evidence typeEach fact in this section carries its evidence type — either cross-checked against independent sources, or confirmed from a single authoritative record.
U.S. dry natural gas production in August 2026 was 3,591 Bcf, or 115.84 Bcf/d, 6.6% higher than in August 2025.[2] 1 source · authoritative record
EIA reported that daily U.S. dry natural gas production in August 2026 was the highest for any month since 1973, the earliest year in its dataset.[2] 1 source · authoritative record
Estimated U.S. natural gas consumption in August 2026 was 2,810 Bcf, or 90.65 Bcf/d, a 6.2% increase from August 2025.[2] 1 source · authoritative record
U.S. net natural gas exports were 607 Bcf, or 19.58 Bcf/d, in August 2026.[2] 1 source · authoritative record
Statements and readings
Not counted as facts — each item shows what kind of statement it isFrom here on: statements not counted as facts — single-source reports, the issuing body’s own statements, and this page’s own readings, each labeled.
U.S. net natural gas exports in January-August 2026 were 4,621 Bcf, 26.5% more than the 3,652 Bcf in January-August 2025.[1] This page’s own calculation or reading · This page's calculation from EIA Table 1
August 2026 supply items in Table 1 add to 2,811 Bcf, against published consumption of 2,810 Bcf.[1] This page’s own calculation or reading · This page's calculation from EIA Table 1
Timeline
What this page could not establish
These are questions this page tried to answer and could not. The gaps are left open rather than filled with a guess.- Why did electric power deliveries of natural gas rise in August 2026?
- What makes up the -59 Bcf balancing item for August 2026?
- Model
- claude-opus-5
- Time
- 11/02/2026, 01:32
- Body characters
- 6,265
- Sources
- 2 sources adopted
- Model
- ChatGPT (checked sources on the web)
- Time
- 11/02/2026, 01:39
- Verdict
- Revision required
Show revision history (3)
| 11/02/2026, 09:00 | First authored (claude-opus-5) | Created |
| 11/02/2026 | First version. Read in full Table 1 of the October 2026 EIA Natural Gas Monthly with all footnotes and source notes, and the report page with all highlights; quotations are complete sentences matched against the source text. | Updated |
| 11/02/2026 | Revised after review: the evidence notes for net storage withdrawals and the balancing item are separated, stating that negative net storage withdrawals mean net injection and that a negative balancing item is not a storage injection; the statements on the balancing item breakdown are limited to the cited Table 1 and highlights, with the footnote pointing to Appendix A. | Updated |
Frequently asked
How much natural gas did the United States produce in August 2026?
3,591 Bcf of dry natural gas, or 115.84 Bcf/d, 6.6% more than in August 2025, according to the EIA Natural Gas Monthly released October 30, 2026. The figure is an estimate.[1][2]
How much natural gas did the United States use in August 2026?
2,810 Bcf, or 90.65 Bcf/d, a 6.2% increase from August 2025 in daily terms; electric power deliveries were the largest sector at 1,556 Bcf.[1][2]
What is the balancing item in the natural gas table?
It was -59 Bcf in August 2026; EIA says it represents quantities lost and imbalances due to differences among data sources. It closes the gap between supply and disposition.[1]
Why do the highlights use Bcf per day?
Daily rates remove the effect of month length: August 2026 has 31 days, and 3,591 Bcf over 31 days is 115.84 Bcf/d. The highlights compare daily rates, while Table 1 gives monthly totals.[1][2]
Are the August 2026 natural gas figures final?
No: data for 2021 through 2024 are final, and 2025 and 2026 data are preliminary; August 2026 production is marked estimated.[1]
When is the next Natural Gas Monthly?
The next release is scheduled for November 30, 2026, according to the report page checked on 2 November 2026.[2]