August Nymex natural gas (NGQ25) on Tuesday closed down -0.073 (-2.20%).
Aug nat-gas prices extended Monday’s sharp losses on Tuesday and posted a 1.5-week low on the outlook for cooler US temperatures, which would curb nat-gas demand from electricity providers for air conditioning usage. Forecaster Vaisala on Tuesday said forecasts shifted cooler for the Midwest in the latter half of the July 27-31 period, and milder conditions are expected to continue for August 1-5 over much of the US.
Expectations for higher US nat-gas production are also weighing on nat-gas prices after last Friday’s weekly report from Baker Hughes showed that the number of active US nat-gas drilling rigs in the week ending July 18 rose by +9 to a 17-month high of 117 rigs.
Lower-48 state dry gas production on Tuesday was 107.2 bcf/day (+3.9% y/y), according to BNEF. Lower-48 state gas demand on Tuesday was 78.1 bcf/day (-2.8% y/y), according to BNEF. Estimated LNG net flows to US LNG export terminals on Tuesday were 14.9 bcf/day (-1.1% 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 last Wednesday that total US (lower-48) electricity output in the week ended July 12 rose +1.1% y/y to 98,133 GWh (gigawatt hours), and US electricity output in the 52-week period ending July 12 rose +2.4% y/y to 4,248,982 GWh.
Last Thursday’s weekly EIA report was slightly bearish for nat-gas prices since nat-gas inventories for the week ended July 11 rose +46 bcf, above the consensus of +45 bcf and the 5-year average of +41 bcf for the week. As of July 11, nat-gas inventories were down -4.9% y/y, but were +6.2% above their 5-year seasonal average, signaling adequate nat-gas supplies. As of July 17, gas storage in Europe was 65% full, compared to the 5-year seasonal average of 73% 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 July 18 rose by +9 to a 17-month high of 117 rigs. In the past ten months, the number of gas rigs has risen from the 4-year low of 94 rigs reported in September 2024.
