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Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Shahool Al Bari Shahool Al Bari New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS OD5404

Revenue

$94.5bn

2024

$94.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

17,605

Businesses

154

Wages

$X.Xbn

Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry analysis

Natural gas liquid (NGL) production proportionally grows with natural gas extraction. The popularity of advanced extraction techniques like hydraulic fracturing has bolstered shale gas production, giving processors a steady revenue flow. The pandemic weakened industrial production and residential and commercial construction, leading to an oversupply of NGLs and causing prices to plummet. This quickly reversed as the economy reopened and natural gas prices surged, spiking production. This growth lasted until 2024, when prices eventually settled down as supply shortages slowly began to wane. Even so, industry-wide revenue swelled at a CAGR of 3.0% through 2024, reaching $94.5 billion, including a modest 3.1% uptick in 2024 alone. Profitability also swelled as processors passed on price hikes to consumers.

Trends and Insights

  • As prices push down from historical highs, revenue will contract. Even so, expanding natural gas extract will provide processors with a steady stream of business.
  • Propane production expands despite low domestic consumption. An unexpectedly mild winter reduced domestic propane consumption, but global supply woes ramped up propane exports and output.
  • Natural gas liquid processors establish near natural gas extractors. Natural gas liquid processors must establish near natural gas drillers to minimize transportation costs.
  • Processors compete on price and operating capacity. Companies with greater operating capacity and efficiency have an advantage over smaller processors.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $94.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The ups and downs of natural gas prices

  • Plummeting industrial production amid the pandemic led to manufacturers cutting down their output and purchases of liquified natural gas. Lockdowns also restricted travelling which cut revenue since fuel was not needed.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Price drops offset elevated production

  • As oil and gas production continues to climb through 2029, processors will enjoy steady volumes. Industrial production will also remain steady, supporting growth from end users like plastic manufacturers and energy producers.

Biggest companies in the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Targa Resources Corp.
6,093.5
660.6
10.8
Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
3,709.8
748.4
20.2
Exxon Mobil Corporation
2,325.0
4,965.1
213.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Pentane plus and natural gasoline, Ethane and Propane. Pentane plus and natural gasoline is the largest segment of the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US.

Trends and Insights

Soaring gas prices accelerate ethanol production

  • This segment comprises ethanol, the primary input in ethylene production to manufacture various plastic products. Ethanol can also combine with gasoline to power flexible fuel vehicles.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry separates out natural gas liquids (NGLs) from natural gas. Natural gas arrives at processing facilities in a gaseous state, and processors clean the natural gas and extract liquid hydrocarbons including ethane, propane, butane, isobutane and natural gasoline. These liquids have various uses including home heating fuel, inputs in plastic products and heating or blowing fuel in industrial production. The production of NGLs from oil refining is not included in this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Separating out pentane plus and natural gasoline during natural gas processingSeparating out ethane during natural gas processingSeparating out propane during natural gas processingSeparating out butane during natural gas processingSeparating out isobutane during natural gas processing

Companies

Targa Resources Corp.Enterprise Products Partners L.P.Exxon Mobil Corporation

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS (NGLS)FRACTIONATIONWET GASDRY GASHYDROCARBONPENTANE PLUS

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 21113 - Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

As prices push down from historical highs, revenue will contract. Even so, expanding natural gas extract will provide processors with a steady stream of business.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Propane production expands despite low domestic consumption. An unexpectedly mild winter reduced domestic propane consumption, but global supply woes ramped up propane export...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Natural gas liquid processors establish near natural gas extractors. Natural gas liquid processors must establish near natural gas drillers to minimize transportation costs.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Processors compete on price and operating capacity. Companies with greater operating capacity and efficiency have an advantage over smaller processors.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Just one company has amassed more than 5.0% of the market. The massive natural gas output in the US makes it difficult for companies to accumulate a significant portion of th...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Targa Resources Corp.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Enterprise Products Partners L.P.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Exxon Mobil Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Targa Resources Corp., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Enterprise Products Partners L.P., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Exxon Mobil Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Natural gas liquid processors receive indirect public assistance through various government-funded programs. The Department of Energy’s Clean Cities programs provided $300.0 ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit surges as prices spike. Russia reducing natural gas liquid exports following its invasion of Ukraine, compounded by the explosion of the Nordstream Pipelines, led to s...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in United States is $94.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in 2024?

There are 154 businesses in the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Natural Gas Liquid Processing market in United States are Targa Resources Corp., Enterprise Products Partners L.P. and Exxon Mobil Corporation

What does the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US in United States include?

Separating out pentane plus and natural gasoline during natural gas processing and Separating out ethane during natural gas processing are part of the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Targa Resources Corp..

How competitive is the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Natural Gas Liquid Processing in the US industry in United States.

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Competitors

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Methodology

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Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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