Plunge in NGLs prices add to US gas producers' woes
North American producers have, since the collapse in Henry Hub prices, relied on higher-value liquids to offset low natural gas prices, but the hedge is ending
Prices for ethane and propane fell 48% and 32%, respectively, in 2012, data released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows, placing further stress on the already difficult economics of unconventional natural gas. Spot ethane prices hit an all-time low of $0.22.5 per gallon in December 2012, compared with $0.78/g at this time last year. Propane has fallen to $0.80/g from $1.39/g in the same period. Prices for secondary products butane, isobutane and natural gasoline also fell by 5-12% in the past year. This is bad news for struggling gas producers. Last year's Henry Hub average price of $2.77 per million British thermal units (Btu) was the lowest in a decade, according to the E
Also in this section
19 January 2026
Newfound optimism is emerging that a dormant exploration frontier could become a strategic energy play and—whisper it quietly—Europe’s next offshore opportunity
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026
