US natural gas futures prices gained in midday trading in midday trade on Thursday after federal data showed a smaller-than-expected increase in storage inventories, signaling tighter market conditions.
The front-month Henry Hub natural gas contract and the continuous futures contract both rose 2.48% to $3.223 per million British thermal units.
The US Energy Information Administration said working gas in underground storage totaled 2.759 trillion cubic feet in the week ended June 12, an increase of 73 billion cubic feet from the prior week. The build was below market expectations for an 82-Bcf injection, according to data from Investing.com.
Inventories were 29 Bcf below year-earlier levels but remained 151 Bcf above the five-year average of 2.608 Tcf. The EIA said total working gas remained within the historical five-year range.
Weather forecaster NatGasWeather.com said conditions during the reporting week were hotter than normal across most of the US, except in the cooler Pacific Northwest. Strong wind and solar generation helped offset some gas demand for power generation.
The firm had forecast a 73-Bcf storage build, matching both the reported figure and the five-year average increase for the period.
Market participants were also monitoring the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, which was moving across the southeastern US. About 236,000 customers were without power across several states, according to Bitget News. The storm could affect near-term electricity demand and potentially disrupt operations at LNG export facilities, it said.
Looking ahead, NatGasWeather.com said weather systems would continue to bring showers and cooler temperatures across northern parts of the country, while much of the West and South experience highs ranging from the 80s to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Parts of the East Coast were expected to reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday. Overall, natural gas demand is projected to remain light to moderate over the next week.
NRG Energy said natural gas market fundamentals were expected to tighten as power-sector demand increased by 1.6 Bcf per day, led by gains in the Midcontinent and Northeast regions.
The increase outpaced a 0.5-Bcf/d rise in domestic production, which reached 107.6 Bcf/d, supported by output growth in the Southwest and Northeast, NRG said.
Meanwhile, European natural gas prices declined amid reports that the US and Iran had signed a remote memorandum of understanding aimed at ending conflict in the Middle East and immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Europe is a major destination for US LNG exports. NRG Energy said markets would be watching closely to determine whether the agreement is ultimately implemented as planned. US LNG feedgas flows are holding at 19.2 Bcf/d near recent highs, Gelber & Associates said.