Sep Nymex natural gas (NGU24) on Friday closed down by -0.031 (-1.51%).
Sep nat-gas prices on Friday extended this week's slide to a 2-1/2 week low. Nat-gas prices were weighed down Friday by negative carryover from Thursday when weekly EIA inventories rose +35 bcf, well above expectations of a +25 bcf build, thus keeping inventories well above their 5-year average by +12.6%.
Nat-gas prices recovered from their worst levels Friday after forecaster Maxar Technologies said above-normal temperatures are expected to be widespread throughout the US for August 28-September 1, which will boost nat-gas demand from electricity providers to run air conditioning.
Lower-48 state dry gas production Friday was 100.8 bcf/day (-0.2% y/y), according to BNEF. Lower-48 state gas demand Friday was 70.9 bcf/day (-9.4% y/y), according to BNEF. LNG net flows to US LNG export terminals Friday were 12.9 bcf/day (+0.2% 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 August 17 rose +0.43% y/y to 92,551 GWh (gigawatt hours), and US electricity output in the 52-week period ending August 17 rose +2.03% y/y to 4,150,777 GWh.
Thursday's weekly EIA report was bearish for nat-gas prices since nat-gas inventories for the week ended August 16 rose +35 bcf, above expectations of +25 bcf but below the 5-year average build for this time of year of +41 bcf. As of August 16, nat-gas inventories were up +7.0% y/y and were +12.6% above their 5-year seasonal average, signaling ample nat-gas supplies. In Europe, gas storage was 90% full as of August 18, above the 5-year seasonal average of 82% full for this time of year.
Baker Hughes reported Friday that the number of active US nat-gas drilling rigs in the week ending August 23 fell by -1 rig to match the 3-year low of 97 rigs from August 9 and June 28. Active rigs have fallen back since posting a 5-year high of 166 rigs in Sep 2022, up 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.
