November Nymex natural gas (NGX24) on Tuesday closed down by -0.013 (-0.47%).
Nov nat-gas prices Tuesday extended Monday's sharp losses to a 2-week low and closed slightly lower. Nat-gas prices are under pressure on the outlook for demand destruction from Hurricane Milton. The hurricane has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm and will likely knock out electricity in much of Florida and reduce gas demand from power plants to produce electricity.
Losses in nat-gas prices were limited by forecasts for colder US temperatures that could boost heating demand for nat-gas. The Commodity Weather Group said Tuesday that forecasts shifted cooler to below-normal temperatures for the eastern and parts of the central US for October 13-17.
Lower-48 state dry gas production Tuesday was 100 bcf/day (-3.0% y/y), according to BNEF. Lower-48 state gas demand Tuesday was 72 bcf/day (+10.3% y/y), according to BNEF. LNG net flows to US LNG export terminals Tuesday were 12.3 bcf/day (+8.0% 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 last Wednesday that total US electricity output in the week ended September 28 rose +3.29% y/y to 79,779 GWh (gigawatt hours), and US electricity output in the 52-week period ending September 28 rose +1.56% y/y to 4,151,587 GWh.
Last Thursday's weekly EIA report was bullish for nat-gas prices since nat-gas inventories for the week ended September 27 rose +55 bcf, below expectations of +62 and well below the 5-year average build for this time of year of +98 bcf. As of September 27, nat-gas inventories were up +3.0% y/y and were +5.7% above their 5-year seasonal average, signaling ample nat-gas supplies. In Europe, gas storage was 95% full as of October 6, above the 5-year seasonal average of 91% 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 October 4 rose by +3 rigs to 102 rigs, modestly above the 3-1/3 year low from September 6 of 94 rigs. Active rigs have fallen 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.
