Natural Gas Radar

2026-05-25 23:48

Table of Contents

Brian's Thoughts

Published: 05/25/2026 Focus: Natural Gas
The gas market is doing something the headline price at $3.02 completely fails to communicate: it is getting structurally tighter every single day, and the storage surplus the bears keep pointing to is being quietly eaten alive. Production has flatlined at 106.6 Bcf/d — up just 0.1 Bcf/d year-over-year, which rounds to zero — while demand has broken out in three directions simultaneously. Power burn hit 39.4 Bcf/d on Wednesday, a number that is 10.7 Bcf/d above the same day last year, and even after stripping out the week's above-normal temperatures the structural demand increase is 1.8 Bcf/d — meaning real, baseline, weather-independent consumption of gas-fired power is growing. LNG exports are running 1.6 Bcf/d above last year at 17.0 Bcf/d despite seasonal maintenance pulling flows down from April's record 18.8 Bcf/d, and three US LNG cargoes are reportedly heading to China in June for the first time since February 2025. The net result is a daily supply/demand imbalance running 7.4 Bcf/d tight versus the 5-year average — the most consistent tightening streak of the injection season — which means the 6.5% storage surplus the market is discounting is on a clock. Today's EIA storage report is the first real test: a print under 90 Bcf confirms the tightening is real and $3.449 becomes a math problem, not a forecast; a print over 100 Bcf hands the bears a week and $2.76 comes back into the conversation. The global backdrop only adds pressure — Europe is 37% full against a 50% seasonal average, Ras Laffan is running at 17% reduced capacity with a 3 to 5 year repair timeline, and the Hormuz closure has made the US the incremental LNG supplier for two continents. At $3.02, the market is pricing the inventory number. It has not priced the trajectory. Nat Gas ended the week just below the key support/resistance level of 2.924.

Today's Update

Updated: 2026-05-25 23:46:50 Length: 538 chars
Natural gas is tightening, currently priced at $3.02, despite a storage surplus. Production is stagnant at 106.6 Bcf/d, while demand sees a notable uptick, with power burn hitting 39.4 Bcf/d—10.7 Bcf/d higher than last year. LNG exports also remain strong, 1.6 Bcf/d above 2022 levels. With a daily supply/demand imbalance of 7.4 Bcf/d tight versus the 5-year average, the market is at a pivotal point. Watch for upcoming EIA storage reports; a print under 90 Bcf could shift sentiment upward, while over 100 Bcf may revive bearish views.

Executive Summary

Total supply increased by 0.9 BCFD | Total demand increased by 10.0 BCFD | Market is undersupplied by 1.52 BCFD

Technical Analysis

Overall Technical Score (-5 to +5): 0 (Neutral)
Current Price: $3.06
Signal: Neutral

Moving Averages (9/20)

BULLISH

MA(9): $2.98

MA(20): $2.86

Current Price is 3.06, 9 day MA 2.98, 20 day MA 2.86

MACD (12, 26, 9)

BULLISH

MACD: 0.0647

Signal: 0.0412

Days since crossover: 26

MACD crossed the line 26 days ago and is in a bullish setup

RSI (14)

NEUTRAL

Value: 59.6

Category: NEUTRAL

RSI is 59.6 (note 70% is overbought and 30% is oversold)

Volume (vs 20d Avg)

LOWER

Current: 29,706

Avg (20d): 123,380

Ratio: 0.24

Volume is lower versus 20 day average

Stochastic (14, 3)

BULLISH CROSS

%K: 83.12

%D: 69.05

Stochastic %K: 83.12, %D: 69.05. Signal: bullish cross

ADX (14)

WEAK TREND

ADX: 23.99

+DI: 25.63

-DI: 13.54

ADX: 23.99 (+DI: 25.63, -DI: 13.54). Trend: weak trend

Williams %R (14)

OVERBOUGHT

Value: -16.88

Williams %R: -16.88 (overbought)

Bollinger Bands (20, 2)

ABOVE MIDDLE

Upper: 3.14

Middle: 2.86

Lower: 2.59

Price vs BBands (20, 2): above middle. Upper: 3.14, Middle: 2.86, Lower: 2.59

Fundamental Analysis

Category Current (BCFD) Last Week Last Year 3 Yr Avg
Dry Production 107.6 106.5 106.1 102.0
LNG Imports 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.07
Canadian Imports 4.3 4.5 5.7 5.13
Total Supply 111.9 111.0 111.8 107.17
Industrial Demand 23.5 21.6 22.4 21.93
Electric Power Demand 35.8 28.1 33.1 32.53
Residential & Commercial 20.9 21.4 12.9 12.03
LNG Exports 17.4 16.6 15.6 13.67
Mexico Exports 7.0 6.9 7.5 6.63
Pipeline Fuel 8.83 8.83 6.7 7.33
Total Demand 113.42 103.42 98.2 94.13
Supply/Demand Balance -1.52 7.58 13.6 13.03

Weather Analysis

Natural Gas Weather Impact: LOW heating demand - mild conditions (Mixed heating and cooling conditions)

Weather Analysis Summary

Heating Degree Days (Utility Gas Weighted)
Last 7 Days: 28.0 HDD -4.0 vs Normal
Next 7 Days: 13.0 HDD -11.0 vs Normal
Cooling Degree Days (Population Weighted)
Last 7 Days: 36.0 CDD +10.0 vs Normal
Next 7 Days: 37.0 CDD +3.0 vs Normal

Weather Trend Analysis (Click charts to zoom)

HDD Analysis
HDD Analysis Chart
CDD Analysis
CDD Analysis Chart

Detailed Data

Recent HDD Data
Date HDD Normal Anomaly
05/17 3.0 5.0 -2.0
05/18 3.0 5.0 -2.0
05/19 3.0 5.0 -2.0
05/20 4.0 5.0 -1.0
05/21 5.0 4.0 +1.0
05/22 5.0 4.0 +1.0
05/23 5.0 4.0 +1.0
HDD Forecast
Date HDD Normal Anomaly
05/25 1.0 4.0 -3.0
05/26 2.0 4.0 -2.0
05/27 2.0 4.0 -2.0
05/28 2.0 3.0 -1.0
05/29 2.0 3.0 -1.0
05/30 2.0 3.0 -1.0
05/31 2.0 3.0 -1.0
Recent CDD Data
Date CDD Normal Anomaly
05/17 6.0 3.0 +3.0
05/18 7.0 3.0 +4.0
05/19 8.0 4.0 +4.0
05/20 6.0 4.0 +2.0
05/21 3.0 4.0 -1.0
05/22 3.0 4.0 -1.0
05/23 3.0 4.0 -1.0
CDD Forecast
Date CDD Normal Anomaly
05/25 5.0 4.0 +1.0
05/26 6.0 4.0 +2.0
05/27 7.0 5.0 +2.0
05/28 6.0 5.0 +1.0
05/29 5.0 5.0 +0.0
05/30 4.0 5.0 -1.0
05/31 4.0 6.0 -2.0
Data Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Region: CONUS Climatology: 1981-2010 Normal Period

Economic Analysis

Economic Sentiment Summary

POSITIVE - Economic indicators generally supportive
Dollar Impact: Strong USD may pressure commodity prices
Industrial Demand: Strong industrial demand signals
Interest Rate Impact: Stable/lower rates may support demand
Risk Sentiment: Low market volatility/risk appetite

Economic Indicators

USD_INDEX

99.24
Daily: -0.08 (-0.08%)
Weekly: -0.06 (-0.06%)

US_10Y

4.56
Daily: -0.03 (-0.61%)
Weekly: -0.07 (-1.41%)

SP500

7473.47
Daily: 27.75 (0.37%)
Weekly: 70.42 (0.95%)

VIX

16.59
Daily: -0.11 (-0.66%)
Weekly: -1.47 (-8.14%)

GOLD

4545.6
Daily: 24.6 (0.54%)
Weekly: 39.3 (0.87%)

COPPER

6.41
Daily: 0.07 (1.1%)
Weekly: 0.25 (4.01%)

CFTC Commitment of Traders Analysis

Natural Gas Positioning (NAT GAS NYME - NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE)

Report Date: 2026-05-19
Sentiment: Bearish but Weakening
Positioning: Normal Range

Open Interest

1,599,429
Change: -28,850

Managed Money

-96,303
Change: +23,762
-6.0% of OI

Producer/Merchant

-20,268
Change: +6,056
-1.3% of OI

Swap Dealers

194,492
Change: +8,925
12.2% of OI

Other Reportables

-95,893
Change: -39,652
-6.0% of OI

Analysis Rationale (Managed Money):

  • Managed Money sentiment: bearish but weakening

Crude Oil Positioning (WTI-PHYSICAL - NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE)

Report Date: 2026-05-19
Sentiment: Bullish and Strengthening
Positioning: Normal Range

Open Interest

2,002,950
Change: -78,977

Managed Money

98,219
Change: +25,418
4.9% of OI

Producer/Merchant

372,149
Change: +14,742
18.6% of OI

Swap Dealers

-572,558
Change: -19,017
-28.6% of OI

Analysis Rationale (Managed Money):

  • Managed Money sentiment: bullish and strengthening

LNG Market Analysis

LNG Market Summary

TTF prices decreased to 16.299 EUR/MWh (-0.054). JKM prices decreased to 18.810 USD/MMBtu (-0.110). JKM is trading at a premium of 2.511 to TTF, indicating strong Asian demand.

TTF Prices

16.299

-0.054

Front month: JUN 26

As of 2026-05-25

JKM Prices

18.810

-0.110

Front month: JUL 26

As of 2026-05-25

JKM-TTF Spread

2.511

15.41%

JKM is trading at a premium to TTF, indicating strong Asian demand.

As of 2026-05-25

Forward Curves Visualization
TTF (EUR/MWh)
JKM (USD/MMBtu)
19.5
17.4
15.4
13.4
11.3
16.30
18.81
JUN 26
16.62
18.37
JUL 26
16.59
17.98
AUG 26
16.58
17.48
SEP 26
16.52
17.15
OCT 26
16.25
16.87
NOV 26
16.17
16.45
DEC 26
16.07
15.40
JAN 27
15.84
14.60
FEB 27
15.19
12.27
MAR 27
12.82
12.51
APR 27
12.00
12.57
MAY 27
TTF Forward Curve (Next 12 Months)
Month Price (EUR/MWh)
JUN 26 16.299
JUL 26 16.617
AUG 26 16.588
SEP 26 16.582
OCT 26 16.517
NOV 26 16.249
DEC 26 16.174
JAN 27 16.068
FEB 27 15.838
MAR 27 15.186
APR 27 12.822
MAY 27 11.999
JKM Forward Curve (Next 12 Months)
Month Price (USD/MMBtu)
JUL 26 18.810
AUG 26 18.370
SEP 26 17.980
OCT 26 17.485
NOV 26 17.150
DEC 26 16.870
JAN 27 16.445
FEB 27 15.405
MAR 27 14.600
APR 27 12.265
MAY 27 12.505
JUN 27 12.575

LNG Flows Analysis

LNG Flows Summary

2026-04-25 to 2026-05-23
Latest LNG Flow 17.10 BCF/D
Daily Change -0.20 (-1.2%)
30-Day Average
17.27
BCF/D
30-Day High
18.60
BCF/D
30-Day Low
14.60
BCF/D
Data Points
28
Days

LNG Flows Trend (Click to zoom)

LNG Flows Chart
×

LNG Flows Analysis

Zoomed Chart

Recent LNG Flows Data

Date LNG Flow (BCF/D) Change from Previous
2026-05-14 16.60 N/A
2026-05-15 16.70 +0.10
2026-05-16 16.90 +0.20
2026-05-17 17.00 +0.10
2026-05-18 17.00 +0.00
2026-05-19 14.60 -2.40
2026-05-20 17.00 +2.40
2026-05-21 17.40 +0.40
2026-05-22 17.30 -0.10
2026-05-23 17.10 -0.20

News & Sentiment Analysis

Market Sentiment Overview

NEUTRAL
Average Polarity: -0.133
Confidence: 1.0
Articles Analyzed: 39
Last Updated: 2026-05-25 23:47:37

Commodity Sentiment

HEATING_OIL

0.0

NATURAL_GAS

0.0

CRUDE_OIL

-0.4

Top News Topics

Fibonacci Levels Analysis

Current Price: $3.06
Closest Support: $2.99 2.29% below current price
Closest Resistance: $3.11 1.63% above current price

Fibonacci Retracement Levels

0.0 $2.48
0.236 $2.72
0.382 $2.87
0.5 $2.99 Support
0.618 $3.11 Resistance
0.786 $3.28
1.0 $3.49

Fibonacci Extension Levels

1.272 $3.77
1.618 $4.12
2.0 $4.5
2.618 $5.13

ML Price Prediction

Current Price: $2.91
Forecast Generated: 2026-05-25 23:47:37
Next Trading Day: UP 0.61%
Date Prediction Lower Bound Upper Bound
2026-05-23 $2.92 $2.79 $3.06
2026-05-24 $2.9 $2.77 $3.04
2026-05-25 $2.92 $2.79 $3.06
2026-05-26 $2.92 $2.78 $3.06
2026-05-27 $2.93 $2.79 $3.07

ML Insights

  • Forecast generated using ARIMA(5, 1, 0).
  • The model predicts a price increase of ~0.61% for the next trading day (2026-05-23), reaching $2.92.
  • The 5-day forecast suggests relatively stable prices between 2026-05-23 and 2026-05-27.
  • The average confidence interval width is ~9.4% of the predicted price, indicating model uncertainty.
  • SIGNAL: Bullish signal, moderate uncertainty.

AI Analysis

💹

For Energy Traders:

The current market data presents a neutral technical interpretation, with a Fibonacci support level at 2.99 and resistance at 3.11. Traders should be cautious as the fundamental balance is slightly bearish at -1.52 BCFD, indicating a potential oversupply. The ML price forecast suggests a slight upward movement of 0.61% with a range between 2.79 and 3.06. This could present short-term trading opportunities, but the overall market sentiment remains neutral, indicating potential volatility ahead.

For Producers (Oil & Gas Companies):

With the fundamental balance showing a deficit of -1.52 BCFD, producers may need to adjust production levels to align with current demand trends. Given the cooling demand outlook across regions, particularly with a CDD of 26.0 in the West, there may be opportunities to optimize production for higher cooling needs. Additionally, the neutral sentiment in the market suggests that hedging strategies should focus on flexibility to respond to potential price fluctuations rather than taking strong directional bets.

🏭

For Consumers (Industrial/Utilities):

Consumers should prepare for potential cost fluctuations as the cooling demand is expected to rise, particularly in the West with a CDD of 26.0. This could lead to increased prices in the short term. The fundamental balance indicates a slight oversupply, which may mitigate extreme price spikes, but the neutral market sentiment suggests that procurement strategies should consider potential volatility. Consumers may benefit from locking in prices or exploring hedging options to manage costs effectively.

📊

For Commodity Professionals (Analysts, Consultants):

The market is currently characterized by a neutral sentiment, with the fundamental balance indicating a slight bearish outlook at -1.52 BCFD. The cooling demand is the strongest driver, particularly in the West, which may impact price movements positively in the near term. The ML price forecast suggests a potential upward trend, but with resistance at 3.11, analysts should monitor for any shifts in supply dynamics or external factors that may alter the current balance.

Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult with a financial advisor for specific recommendations.