Nat-Gas Prices Slip on Expectations for US Supplies to Remain Abundant

Rich Asplund Barchart Wed Apr 17, 2:43PM CDT
Natural Gas - Natural Gas Close up Burner

May Nymex natural gas (NGK24) on Wednesday closed down by -0.020 (-1.15%).

May nat gas prices on Wednesday posted moderate losses on expectations that US nat-gas supplies will remain abundant.  Thursday's weekly EIA nat-gas inventories are expected to climb by +53 bcf, well above the five-year average for this time of year of +24 bcf.   Losses in nat-gas were limited after Atmospheric G2 said the forecast is trending cooler in the eastern part of the US, which could boost heating demand for nat-gas.  

Nat-gas prices collapsed earlier this year, with nearest-futures (NGJ24) posting a 3-3/4 year low on March 26 as an unusually mild winter curbed heating consumption for nat-gas and pushed inventories well above average.  As of April 5, US nat-gas inventories were +38.4% above their 5-year seasonal average, signaling abundant nat-gas supplies.  

Nat-gas prices are also under pressure after the Freeport LNG nat-gas export terminal in Texas on March 1 shut down one of its three production units due to damage from extreme cold in Texas.  The unit recently reopened on a partial basis.  However, Freeport said that once the production unit is fully reopened, the other two units will be taken down for maintenance, and all three units will not return online until May.  The lack of full capacity of the Freeport export terminal limits US nat-gas exports and boosts US nat-gas inventories.  

Lower-48 state dry gas production Wednesday was 97.9 bcf/day (-2.2% y/y), according to BNEF.  Lower-48 state gas demand Wednesday was 67.5 bcf/day (-4.9% y/y), according to BNEF.  LNG net flows to US LNG export terminals Wednesday were 10.4 bcf/day (-17% w/w), according to BNEF.

An increase in US electricity output is positive for nat-gas demand from utility providers.  The Edison Electric Institute reported Wednesday that total US electricity output in the week ended April 13 rose +0.6% y/y to 68,989 GWh (gigawatt hours), although cumulative US electricity output in the 52-week period ending April 13 fell -0.35% y/y to 4,094,656 GWh.

Last Thursday's weekly EIA report was bearish for nat-gas prices since nat-gas inventories for the week ended April 5 rose by +24 bcf, a larger build than expectations of +15 bcf and right on the 5-year average build for this time of year.  As of April 5, nat-gas inventories were up +23.1% y/y and were +38.4% above their 5-year seasonal average, signaling ample nat-gas supplies.  In Europe, gas storage was 62% full as of April 15, above the 5-year seasonal average of 43% full for this time of year.

Baker Hughes reported last Friday that the number of active US nat-gas drilling rigs in the week ending April 12 fell by -1 rig to a 2-1/4 year low of 109 rigs.  Active rigs have fallen since climbing to a 4-1/2 year high of 166 rigs in Sep 2022 from the pandemic-era record low of 68 rigs posted in July 2020 (data since 1987).
 



More Natural Gas News from Barchart
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.