January Nymex natural gas (NGF24) on Friday closed down -0.004 (-0.15%).
Nat-gas prices Friday closed slightly lower but remained above Thursday's 3-1/2 month low. Nat-gas prices have been under pressure this week on weather forecasts calling for above-average temperatures that would reduce heating demand for nat-gas. The Commodity Weather Group said Friday that weather forecasts moved warmer in the U.S. from Dec 13-17, and "the longer-range temperature forecast turned warmer than normal for most of the U.S."
Lower-48 state dry gas production Friday was 105.5 bcf/day (+4.7% y/y), according to BNEF. Lower-48 state gas demand Friday was 83.2 bcf/day (-5.3% y/y), according to BNEF. LNG net flows to U.S. LNG export terminals Friday were 14.5 bcf/day (+5.4% w/w), according to BNEF.
High inventories caused by carryover from the mild 2022/23 winter and weak heating demand have undercut nat-gas prices. Gas storage across Europe was 94% full as of December 3, above the 5-year seasonal average of 84% full for this time of year. U.S. nat-gas inventories as of December 1 were +6.7% above their 5-year seasonal average.
An increase in U.S. electricity output is bullish for nat-gas demand from utility providers. The Edison Electric Institute reported Wednesday that total U.S. electricity output in the week ended December 2 rose +3.7% y/y to 77,956 GWh (gigawatt hours), although cumulative U.S. electricity output in the 52-week period ending December 2 fell -0.7% y/y to 4,092,931 GWh.
Thursday's weekly EIA report was bullish for nat-gas prices as nat-gas inventories for the week ended December 1 fell -117 bcf, more than expectations of a -109 bcf decline and a 5-year average draw of -48 bcf. As of December 1, nat-gas inventories were up +7.4% y/y and were +6.7% above their 5-year seasonal average, signaling ample nat-gas supplies.
Baker Hughes reported Friday that the number of active U.S. nat-gas drilling rigs in the week ended December 8 rose +3 rigs to 119 rigs, just above the 19-month low of 113 rigs posted September 8. Active rigs this year have fallen back after climbing to a 4-year high of 166 rigs in Sep 2022 from the pandemic-era record low of 68 rigs posted in July 2020 (data since 1987).
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.
