-- US natural gas futures edged higher in midday trading on Tuesday as updated weather models pointed to a split demand picture, with colder late-season conditions across the Northern US boosting heating demand while warmer forecasts in the South supported cooling load expectations.
The front-month Henry Hub contract rose 0.81% to $2.72 per million British thermal units, while the continuous contract increased 0.04% to $2.55/MMBtu.
NatGasWeather.com said models added several total degree days since last Friday, driven mainly by colder shifts and additional heating degree days. "Weather patterns are not nearly as bearish as they have been, and likely viewed as neutral, if not a touch bullish," the firm said Monday.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the colder forecast should limit weekly inventory builds from reaching or exceeding 100 billion cubic feet through the second week of May.
Fundamentals, however, remain loose. Trading Economics noted that elevated spring temperatures have already pushed storage levels to about 8% above seasonal norms. The US Energy Information Administration's last report showed inventories rising by 103 Bcf, well above expectations, last year's 77 Bcf build, and the five-year average increase of 64 Bcf.
On the supply side, NRG Energy said dry gas production has softened slightly over the past week, averaging about 106.3 Bcf per day as gross output edged lower. It added that while production has eased from recent highs, supply remains comfortably above demand.
Trading Economics separately said output has declined about 4.1 Bcf/d over the past 18 days to an 11-week low of 108.1 Bcf/d, as major producers scaled back in response to persistently low prices.
Demand has also weakened with seasonal moderation. NRG Energy said total US consumption averaged near 101.7 Bcf/d over the week, with declines led by residential and commercial usage and only limited offset from power burn.
LNG export feedgas has remained relatively steady, holding in a tight range around 18.8 to 19.0 Bcf/d, according to NRG Energy.