US Natural Gas Prices Drop Sharply As New Weather Forecasts, Lower Weekly Inventory Pull Weigh On Demand
US Natural Gas Prices Drop Sharply As New Weather Forecasts, Lower Weekly Inventory Pull Weigh On Demand
While this draw was larger than the prior week's 93 Bcf decline, it fell short of analyst expectations for a 127 Bcf pull. For comparison, the five-year average for this time of year shows a decrease of 104 Bcf, while the same period last year saw a much smaller draw of 35 Bcf.After weeks of significant gains, U.S. natural gas prices at the Henry Hub facility plunged on Friday, dropping over 7% to $3.39 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), the lowest in a week.
在经过几周的显著上涨后，美国天然气价格在亨利中心设施于周五暴跌，下降超过7%，降至每百万英热单位（MMBtu）3.39美元，为一周以来的最低点。
The sharp decline was driven by milder-than-expected cold weather forecasts and a smaller-than-anticipated inventory withdrawal, which weighed on near-term demand expectations and erased recent momentum.
急剧下降是由于冷天气预报温和于预期，以及意外较小的库存提取，这对短期需求预期产生了压力，并消除了近期的势头。
Latest Natural Gas Storage Data Reveals Softer Pull
最新的天然气储存数据揭示了软化的提取情况
The Energy Information Administration reported Friday that natural gas inventories decreased by 116 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in the week ending Dec. 27.
能源信息署周五报告称，截至12月27日的一周，天然气库存减少了1160亿立方英尺（Bcf）。
While this draw was larger than the prior week's 93 Bcf decline, it fell short of analyst expectations for a 127 Bcf pull. For comparison, the five-year average for this time of year shows a decrease of 104 Bcf, while the same period last year saw a much smaller draw of 35 Bcf.
尽管这一提取量大于前一周的93 Bcf下降，但仍低于分析师对127 Bcf提取的预期。相比之下，过去五年的这个时间段的平均水平显示减少了104 Bcf，而去年同期的提取则小得多，仅为35 Bcf。
Despite the lower-than-expected draw, this marks the seventh consecutive week of inventory declines as colder conditions drive heating demand.
尽管提取量低于预期，但这标志着库存连续第七周下降，因为寒冷的天气推动了供热需求。
Frosty Weather Conditions Persist, But Extreme Risks Ease
寒冷的天气条件依然持续，但极端风险减轻
The National Weather Service continues to warn of a major winter storm impacting large portions of the central Plains, Midwest and eastern U.S. through Monday. Heavy snowfall and icing are expected along key corridors, including Interstate 70 between Kansas and Indiana, and lake-effect snow will persist around the Great Lakes.
国家气象局继续警告称，一场重大的冬季风暴将影响中央平原、中西部和东部美国的大部分地区，持续到周一。预计沿着主要走廊，包括堪萨斯州与印第安纳州之间的70号州际公路，将会有大雪和冰冻，湖面效应降雪将在五大湖周围持续。
Yet, forecasts for the eight- to 15-day period turned milder, according to NatGasWeather, with American and European weather models projecting eight to 12 fewer heating degree days (HDDs) than prior estimates. This could result in less severe cold across the eastern U.S. for mid-January, moderating demand expectations.
然而，根据NatGasWeather的预测，八到十五天的天气预报转为温和，美国和欧洲的天气模型预计比之前的估计少八到十二个采暖度日（HDDs）。这可能导致美国东部在一月中旬经历较轻的寒冷，从而降低需求预期。
Eli Rubin, senior analyst at EBW Analytics Group, told NaturalGasIntel that, although the market remains tight, "a severe market shortage and Henry Hub price dislocation higher to double digits appears less likely."
EBW Analytics Group的高级分析师Eli Rubin告诉NaturalGasIntel，尽管市场依然紧张，"市场出现严重短缺以及亨利中心价格的剧烈脱节上升到两位数的可能性似乎较小。"
Natural Gas Sector Reactions
天然气板块反应
Despite the sharp drop in natural gas prices – as tracked by the United States Natural Gas Fund LP (NYSE:UNG) – stocks of key companies in the sector demonstrated resilience on Friday.
尽管天然气价格大幅下跌——根据美国天然气基金LP（纽交所：UNG）的跟踪——但该行业主要公司的股票在周五表现出韧性。
EQT Corp. (NYSE:EQT), the largest natural gas producer in the U.S., saw its shares edge up 0.7%, while Cheniere Energy Inc. (NYSE:LNG), the leading U.S. exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), gained 1.8%, eyeing its fifth consecutive session of growth.
EQT能源（纽交所：EQT），美国最大的天然气生产商，其股价上涨0.7%，而美国液化天然气（LNG）领先出口商Cheniere Energy Inc.（纽交所：LNG）上涨1.8%，迈向第五个连续增长的交易日。
Midstream players also performed well, with Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE:KMI) rising 1.2% to reach levels last seen in late November, and Williams Companies Inc. (NYSE:WMB) climbing 1.6%.
中游-脑机企业的表现也非常出色，Kinder Morgan Inc.（纽交所：KMI）上涨1.2%，达到去年11月底时的水平，而威廉姆斯公司（纽交所：WMB）上涨1.6%。
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