Due to record flows to liquefied natural gas export plants and a drop in daily production, U.S. natural gas futures climbed by about 3% to a one-week high on Friday.

Gas futures for May delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 11.5 cents, or 2.9%, to $4.065 per million British thermal units, their highest closing level since March 19. For the week, the contract increased by around 2% after falling by around 3% the week before.

The flow of gas to the eight major LNG export plants operating in the United States averaged 15.8 billion cubic feet per day so far in March, compared to a record 15.6 billion cubic feet per day in February, compared to a record 15.6 billion cubic feet per day in February, as new units at the Platquemines LNG plant of 3.2 billion cubic feet per day per day of Venture Global under construction in Louisiana went into service.