US Natgas Prices Little Changed
US natural gas futures hovered around $3.1 per MMBtu, near the lowest since January 16, as warmer weather forecasts and rising production weighed on prices. Meteorologists expect mostly above-normal temperatures across the US through February 26, reducing heating demand after the recent extreme cold. Output in the Lower 48 states increased to around 107.5 bcfd so far in February from 106.3 bcfd in January, improving supply. A record 360 bcf storage withdrawal during the late January Arctic blast pushed inventories to around 1% below seasonal norms and likely near 6% below normal in early February. However, analysts expect mild weather in the coming weeks to narrow that deficit by early March. LNG export demand remains strong, with flows to the eight major US export plants averaging 18.5 bcfd in February, up from 17.8 bcfd in January and matching record levels, limiting deeper declines.