May Nymex natural gas (NGK24) on Thursday closed down by -0.121 (-6.42%).
May nat gas prices Thursday settled sharply lower due to a larger-than-expected rise in EIA nat-gas inventories of +24 bcf last week, more than expectations of +15 bcf.
A mixed weather forecast also undercut nat-gas prices after Maxar Technologies on Thursday said forecasts are trending warmer from the Rockies to the Western Plains from April 16-20, while the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley are seeing cooler risks.
Nat-gas prices have collapsed this year, with nearest-futures (NGJ24) posting a 3-3/4 year low last Tuesday as an unusually mild winter curbed heating consumption for nat-gas and pushed inventories well above average. As of March 29, US nat-gas inventories were +38.9% 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 Thursday was 98.2 bcf/day (-1.4% y/y), according to BNEF. Lower-48 state gas demand Thursday was 68.5 bcf/day (+13% y/y), according to BNEF. LNG net flows to US LNG export terminals Thursday were 12.3 bcf/day (-5.1% 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 6 rose +0.08% y/y to 71,574 GWh (gigawatt hours), although cumulative US electricity output in the 52-week period ending April 6 fell -0.38% y/y to 4,094,243 GWh.
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 61% full as of April 8, 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 5 fell by -2 to a 2-year low of 110 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).
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.
