US natgas prices slide 3% to 2-month low on near-record output, lagging LNG exports

By Scott DiSavino

July 23 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures slid about 3% to a two-month low on Wednesday on near-record output, stagnant gas flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants, and ample amounts of gas in storage.

Front-month gas futures for August delivery NGc1 on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 8.7 cents, or 2.7%, to $3.165 per million British thermal units, putting the contract on track for its lowest close since May 19.

Despite hotter than normal weather this summer, analysts projected record output should allow energy firms to keep injecting more gas into storage than usual in coming weeks. Gas stockpiles were already about 6% above normal levels for this time of year. EIA/GAS NGAS/POLL

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said a tropical system off the east coast of Florida had a 10% chance of strengthening into a tropical cyclone over the next week as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.

Even though Gulf storms can boost prices by knocking some gas production out of service, analysts have noted that they are more likely to cut demand and prices by knocking out power to millions of homes and businesses, which reduces the amount of gas electric generators need to burn, and shutting LNG export plants.

Only about 2% of all U.S. gas comes from the federal offshore Gulf of Mexico.

SUPPLY AND DEMAND

LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states rose to 107.3 billion cubic feet per day so far in July from a monthly record high of 106.4 bcfd in June.

Meteorologists forecast the weather in the Lower 48 would remain mostly hotter than normal through at least August 7. The hottest days of the summer are expected early next week.

Temperatures across the country will average around 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27.2 degrees Celsius) on July 27 and 82 F on July 28-29. If correct, that will exceed the summer's current hottest daily average of 80 F on June 24 but would remain below the daily average record high of 83 F on July 20, 2022, according to data from financial firm LSEG going back to 2018.

LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will rise from 105.9 bcfd this week to 110.1 bcfd next week. Those forecasts were similar to LSEG's outlook on Tuesday.

The average amount of gas flowing to the eight big U.S. LNG export plants rose to 15.7 bcfd so far in July as liquefaction units at some slowly exited maintenance reductions and unexpected outages.

That was up from 14.3 bcfd in June and 15.0 bcfd in May but remained below the monthly record high of 16.0 bcfd in April.

The U.S. became the world's biggest LNG supplier in 2023, surpassing Australia and Qatar, as surging global prices fed demand for more exports, due in part to supply disruptions and sanctions linked to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Gas was trading around $12 per mmBtu at both the Dutch Title Transfer Facility TRNLTTFMc1 benchmark in Europe and the Japan Korea Marker JKMc1 benchmark in Asia. NG/EU