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A Decade of U.S. LNG Leadership: Powering Prosperity, Security, and Human Flourishing

February 24, 2026, marks the 10th anniversary of the first export cargo of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced from the lower 48 states. This milestone marked the beginning of America's rise as a global LNG supplier.

Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office

February 24, 2026
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Cargo of U.S. LNG
The first cargo of U.S. LNG from the lower 48 states departed from the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project in Louisiana, operated by Cheniere Energy.

February 24, 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the first export cargo of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced from the lower 48 states. This milestone marked the beginning of America's rise as a global LNG supplier, with President Trump's America First leadership in his first and second administration's efforts to accelerate export capacity and establish the United States as the world's largest LNG exporter.

In just a decade, the United States has transformed into the world’s largest exporter of LNG. This rise was enabled by American innovation and production growth and accelerated by President Trump’s leadership to expedite LNG export approvals, remove regulatory barriers, and restore regular order to LNG export reviews—including reversing the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permitting—expanding U.S. export capacity. To date, the nation has exported more than 27 trillion cubic feet of natural gas as LNG—an extraordinary volume of energy that could support the global average annual energy use of approximately 400 million people. 

The Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project in Louisiana, operated by Cheniere Energy
The Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project in Louisiana, operated by Cheniere Energy.

This transformation was made possible by the Shale Revolution, an era of breakthrough technologies including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing that unlocked vast domestic oil and natural gas resources. Building on that foundation, President Trump’s bold energy agenda has positioned the United States as the world’s largest producer of natural gas by unleashing American energy production and advancing LNG export infrastructure. Today, natural gas supplies more than one-third of the nation’s primary energy consumption, heating homes and businesses, generating electricity, and powering American manufacturing. 

As global demand for reliable energy has grown, LNG exports have delivered that abundance to markets around the world. These exports support tens of thousands of high-quality, generational jobs while strengthening prosperity at home and for our allies and trading partners abroad. 

With exports now averaging more than 16 billion cubic feet per day in 2026 and additional capacity under construction, following approvals under President Trump’s leadership and the Department’s actions to restore regular order, U.S. LNG exports are on track to more than double by the early 2030s.

The first LNG cargo departing the lower 48 states ten years ago—demonstrating the strength of American innovation and the impact of common sense policies that have unleashed U.S. LNG to power prosperity, strengthen national security, and support human flourishing.

Learn more about U.S. natural gas imports and exports: https://www.energy.gov/hgeo/listings/natural-gas-imports-and-exports-monthly-reports

Read HGEO's infographic about the United States' LNG leadership: https://www.energy.gov/hgeo/articles/infographic-us-lng-leadership-numbers