New S&P Global Study Reinforces the Economic Opportunity of U.S. LNG and the Need to Build Access to Affordable, Reliable Energy

July 17, 2026

Washington, D.C. – The American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) today welcomed a new independent S&P Global study, supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, that highlights the tremendous economic opportunity created by America’s abundant natural gas resources and growing LNG export industry. The report’s findings reinforce that continued investment in U.S. LNG will strengthen the economy, enhance global energy security, and help keep natural gas prices affordable for American families and businesses.

“U.S. LNG has become one of America’s greatest strategic advantages,” said AXPC CEO Anne Bradbury. “Over the past decade, growing natural gas production has fueled historic LNG exports while domestic natural gas prices have remained among the lowest in the world. This study underscores the urgency of supporting American workers with durable energy policy and reforming Washington’s broken permitting system to build access to affordable, reliable energy.”

The study highlights the scale of opportunity, finding that:

• The U.S. LNG export sector has rapidly emerged to become a $44 billion annual industry and is poised to become the #2 U.S. net export industry over the next 5 years
• On its current track, U.S. LNG supply is expected to double by 2031, adding $1.4 trillion to GDP and supporting 555,000 jobs on average to 2040
• Expanding Northeast pipeline infrastructure could lower regional natural gas prices by over 20% during peak winter demand
• The economic impacts resulting from growing U.S. LNG exports extend across the nation, with 42% of jobs and 33% of GDP contributions occurring in non-gas-producing areas

America’s oil and natural gas producers have helped build our nation’s position as the world’s leading LNG supplier through years of continuous innovation, investment and responsible resource development. Since the U.S. entered the LNG export market, domestic natural gas production has climbed to record levels while benchmark Henry Hub natural gas prices have remained well below the levels common before the export era. Before LNG exports began, Henry Hub prices averaged well above $4/MMBtu for much of the preceding decade. By 2024, they had fallen to $2.21/MMBtu, the lowest annual average on record, and remain below $4/MMBtu today.

That combination of growing production and affordable energy has allowed the U.S. to strengthen its economy, lower natural gas costs, and become the world’s most reliable LNG supplier.

The S&P study highlights the economic benefits that continued investment can unlock, but those benefits are not guaranteed. Meeting growing global demand will require a durable policy framework that supports upstream development, modernizes permitting, expands pipeline infrastructure, and provides regulatory certainty for new LNG export facilities.