US Natgas Prices Rebound on Colder Forecasts
US natural gas futures climbed back toward $4.5/MMBtu as some forecasts shifted colder heading into early December. After several days of warmer revisions, the latest European model added heating demand for late November and early December, helping spark buying. Weather remains the key uncertainty for winter, with some long-term outlooks still hinting at a colder season. NatGasWeather noted that models had recently shed early-December demand, but Tuesday’s midday update partially reversed that. Support also comes from expectations of the first storage withdrawal of the season after last week’s cold snap, ahead of Thursday’s EIA report. Meanwhile, US production remains strong: Lower-48 output has averaged 109.2 bcfd in November, above October levels and near record highs, keeping inventories about 4% above normal. LNG feedgas demand is also robust, with flows to US export plants averaging 18 bcfd so far in November, up from a record 16.7 bcfd in October.