BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that U.S. hydrocarbon gas liquid (HGL) net exports will reach a record 3 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2025, a 10% increase from 2024, Trend reports.
Exports are expected to rise further to 3.2 million b/d in 2026, driven by strong global demand for HGLs such as ethane, propane, butanes, and natural gasoline.
Rising natural gas production in liquids-rich regions like the Eagle Ford and Marcellus has fueled U.S. HGL output. By 2026, production is expected to grow by 0.5 million b/d compared to 2024, while domestic consumption remains steady.
Ethane exports are projected to increase as new petrochemical plants in Europe and Asia come online by late 2026. Meanwhile, propane and butane exports - already growing for nearly two decades - are set to continue their upward trend, supported by competitive U.S. pricing and rising demand in Asia. Notably, Chinese tariffs have spared propane, keeping U.S. exports to China elevated despite ongoing trade tensions.