America’s liquefied natural gas exports are expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, offering a major lift to the country’s shale gas sector even as oil output begins to level off.

Analysts project U.S. LNG shipments will expand by roughly 10% each year, climbing from a record 11.9 billion cubic feet per day in 2024 to more than 21 billion cubic feet per day by 2030. This surge is being driven by strong global demand for cleaner energy and massive investments in new terminals and liquefaction facilities along the Gulf Coast.

The expansion will fuel fresh activity in shale-rich regions. Morgan Stanley forecasts gas production in Louisiana’s Haynesville shale could grow by more than 40% by 2027, while output in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico could rise by over 20%. Smaller gains are also expected in the Marcellus and Utica shales across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Major energy players are already moving to secure their share of the market. Venture Global LNG has launched construction of a third export plant in Louisiana, Cheniere Energy is expanding its Texas operations, and Australia’s Woodside Energy has confirmed plans for its own Louisiana project.

However, pipeline capacity remains a pressing challenge. Producers warn that without new infrastructure, especially in the Northeast, production growth could be capped. Companies including Kinder Morgan, Williams, and Energy Transfer are pouring billions into building new pipelines to move gas to export terminals and domestic markets.

While U.S. gas demand at home is expected to stay relatively flat due to rising renewable energy use, global appetite for LNG is projected to remain strong as more countries phase out coal-fired power. That demand is set to make exports the primary growth driver for America’s natural gas industry through the end of the decade.