Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $191.3bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Economic uncertainty cuts down gas distribution
- Natural gas distributors experienced massive price declines in 2020 because of a deadfall in demand stemming from inoperative or reduced-capacity commercial and industrial operations. The pandemic roiled markets and caused mandatory shutdowns.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Prices swell keeping revenue elevated
- As industrial production grows, the manufacturing sector, heavily reliant on energy-intensive machinery, will continue to require larger quantities of natural gas. They will rely on natural gas distributors to help fuel their power generators, bolstering revenue. Natural gas prices are set to swell through 2029 as production expands amid higher global demand and rising exports.
Biggest companies in the Natural Gas Distribution in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Southern Company | 6,442.6 | 1,041.5 | 16.2 | |
Nisource Inc. | 6,286.8 | 1,567.0 | 24.9 | |
Atmos Energy Corp | 4,763.0 | 1,307.0 | 27.4 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Natural gas distribution, Natural gas marketing and brokering and Other. Natural gas distribution is the largest segment of the Natural Gas Distribution in the US.
Trends and Insights
Natural gas distribution continues to be the main source of revenue
- Distributors offer services to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Retail natural gas prices are regulated by state public utility commissions and are based on procurement costs, transportation costs and public purpose surcharges.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The majority of companies in this industry manage gas distribution systems consisting primarily of gas mains and meters that transport gas to end users. Other companies are gas marketers that buy gas directly from the well and sell it to a distribution system, while others are gas brokers or agents that arrange for gas to be sold via distribution systems operated by other companies.
What's included in this industry?
Operating gas distribution systems (e.g. mains and meters)Buying gas from a well and selling it to a distribution systemActing as gas brokers or agents that arrange the sale of gas over gas distribution systemsTransmitting and distributing gas to final consumersCompanies
The Southern CompanyNisource Inc.Atmos Energy CorpPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
CITYGATEDISTRIBUTION NETWORKNATURAL GASLIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG)MERCAPTANHENRY HUBIndustry Code
NAICS 22121 - Natural Gas Distribution 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
International unrest has driven gas prices up. Deteriorating relations between the Western powers, Russia and China, have caused significant disruptions in the global supply ...
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
Residential households continue to contribute significantly to natural gas revenues. Even with a slight drop in distribution volume, rising prices have kept distributors' sal...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
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
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
The Great Lakes region leads in natural gas distribution, driven by a robust manufacturing sector. States like Michigan and Illinois are key players, home to major cities and...
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
Competition among domestic distributors is moderate because of high entry barriers and government regulations, which limit the number of companies in the market. Most of the ...
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
Major distributors are long-established regional operations. The two largest distributors of natural gas in the United States are NiSource Atmos Energy. Both companies were e...
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 The Southern Company's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Nisource Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Atmos Energy Corp's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for The Southern Company, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Nisource Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Atmos Energy Corp, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Distributors are beholden to environmental regulations that curtail the generation of greenhouse gasses. These regulations are enforced at state and federal levels and distri...
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
Distributors' most significant expense is purchases, representing nearly half of their revenue. With rising prices affecting their bottom line, managing these costs has never...
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 Distribution in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry in United States is $191.3bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry in 2024?
There are 448 businesses in the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Natural Gas Distribution in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Natural Gas Distribution market in United States are The Southern Company, Nisource Inc. and Atmos Energy Corp
What does the Natural Gas Distribution in the US in United States include?
Operating gas distribution systems (e.g. mains and meters) and Buying gas from a well and selling it to a distribution system are part of the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Natural Gas Distribution in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is The Southern Company.
How competitive is the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Natural Gas Distribution in the US industry in United States.
Related Industries
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Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Oil Drilling & Gas Extraction in the US
- Fuel Dealers in the US
- Gas Pipeline Transportation in the US
- Coal & Natural Gas Power in the US
International industries
- Global Coal Mining
- Global Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
- Global Iron Ore Mining
View all industries in United States
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
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.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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