Natural Gas Liquids Flow in Canada shown in PJ 2022

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This diagram presents the production, trade flows, and end-use distribution of natural gas liquids (NGL) in Canada. NGLs include propane, butane and ethane. They are heavier hydrocarbons separated from raw natural gas. They represent a valuable component of the energy system, serving both as feedstocks for the petrochemical industry and as fuel sources.

Natural gas liquids contribute approximately 6% of Canada’s total available energy supply. Of the total NGL production, an estimated 38% is exported, while imports account for less than 13% of total available NGLs.

Domestically, approximately 68% of available NGLs are utilized as non‐energy feedstocks, primarily within industrial processes. In terms of final consumption by sector, the industrial sector accounts for nearly 47%, followed by the commercial and institutional sector at 27%, the residential sector at 12%, the transportation sector at 8%, and the agricultural sector at approximately 6%.

Production: 968 PJ Production: 968 Production 600 Import: 97 PJ Import: 97 Export: 368 PJ Export 368 Adjustments: 65 PJ Adjustments: 65 Available NGL: 763 PJ Available NGLNatural Gas Liquids 763 Transformed to Refined Products: 99 PJ Transformed to Refined Products: 99 Non Energy: 517 PJ Non Energy: 517 Producer Consumption: 4 PJ Producer Consumption: 4 Industrial: 67 PJ Industrial 67 Commercial & Institutional: 38 PJ Commercial & Institutional 38 Residential: 17 PJ Residential 17 Transportation: 12 PJ Transportation 12 Agriculture: 9 PJ Agriculture 9 SPAD/OEE/NRCan 2025/10/31

Natural Gas Liquids (Gas Plant Natural Gas Liquids)

  1. Natural gas liquids (NGLs) include propane, butane, and ethane. These are heavier hydrocarbons separated from raw natural gas during processing. Condensate produced at gas plants is classified with crude oil.

  2. NGLs are a valuable component of the energy system. The available NGL supply is allocated to non-energy uses as petrochemical feedstocks (mainly ethane) and final consumption (propane and butane) across the residential, commercial and institutional, industrial, transportation, and agriculture sectors.

  3. Data sources:
    • Table 25-10-0029-01, Supply and Demand of Primary & secondary energy in terajoules (coal, crude oil, natural gas, NGL (gas plant natural gas liquids), steam, primary and secondary electricity, coke, coke oven gas and RPP (refined petroleum products)).

    • Table 25-10-0026-01, Supply and demand of natural gas liquids, annual, Geography: Canada, Geographical region of Canada, Province or territory.