US Natgas Prices Fall to 2-Week Low
US natural gas futures fell about 3% to $3.17/MMBtu, the lowest in two weeks, pressured by ample storage levels and forecasts for mild weather that should limit heating and cooling demand through late October. Record-high production earlier this year enabled larger-than-usual injections into storage, leaving inventories about 4% above the seasonal average. The latest EIA data showed an 80 billion cubic feet (bcf) storage build for the week ending October 3, slightly above both market expectations of 77 bcf and last year’s 78 bcf. Still, average gas output in the Lower 48 states eased to 106.4 billion cubic feet per day so far in October, down from 107.4 bcfd in September. On the export side, gas flows to US LNG terminals averaged 16.1 bcfd so far this month, up from 15.7 bcfd in September and close to record highs. US natural gas prices have declined over 4% this week, snapping a two-week rally.