LNG: Gas Weather Watching, Not Yet Worried About Geopolitical Events
US natural gas fell 5% to $4.340 on Monday on forecasts for milder weather at a time of ample inventory. It rallied 4.5% last week due to a cold snap in the eastern US. As winter approaches prices are likely to remain highly dependent on forecasts. European gas is also weather sensitive and continues to trade in a narrow range as it watches for indications on the winter outlook. Markets have largely looked through Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities and Iran’s diversion of a tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
- Henry Hub rose to $4.541 before trending down to $4.323. It is now 7.4% below the 13 November high.
- Forecasts are for above average temperatures across most of the US, except the northeast, going into the fourth week of November. Demand growth remains strong rising 12.5% y/y on Monday with output up 6.8% y/y, according to BNEF data.
- European gas rose 0.8% to EUR 31.49 on Monday to be up 1.2% this month driven by reports of colder weather this week. It fell to EUR 31.170 before recovering. It has traded between EUR 30.285/32.575 through November.
- Storage levels are below 2024’s but steady inflows, LNG & pipeline from Norway, have helped to keep prices in a narrow range. Storage is very gradually trending lower – it is now around 81.9% after making 83% this month. It reached 95.3% in October 2024.
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LOOK AHEAD: US Week Ahead Headlined By Delayed CPI Report On Friday
- The September US CPI report will be released on Friday, delayed amidst the government shutdown but with the BLS making a special exception on social security payment considerations.
- Bloomberg consensus looks for headline CPI inflation at a rounded 0.4% M/M after 0.38% back in August and for Y/Y inflation to firm two tenths to 3.1% for what would be its highest since May 2024.
- Core inflation is seen at a rounded 0.3% M/M after 0.35% in August (exceeding the median unrounded estimate of 0.31%) and 0.32% in July. It’s expected to see core CPI inflation hold at 3.1% Y/Y having in August increased to its highest since February.
- Core details should see focus on both goods and services angles: underlying goods inflation has clearly firmed in recent months on tariff pressures although the median increase has currently seen a peak back in June, whilst services will be watched for any spillover after some strong recent non-housing readings.
- The report will come within the FOMC blackout period ahead of the Oct 28-29 decision, with a 25bp cut fully priced and likely needing a large surprise to alter this.
- As for broader inflation details, Fed Chair Powell this week confusingly suggested that we will have the September PPI report but the BLS had previously said “No other releases will be rescheduled or produced until the resumption of regular government services”.
US DATA: Latest Jobless Claims Estimates During The Shutdown
As noted earlier, MNI estimates initial jobless claims at a seasonally adjusted 218k in the week to Oct 11 and continuing claims at a seasonally adjusted 1929k in the week to Oct 4.
- To give a better idea of sensitivity around these estimates, which rely on estimates for some missing states, we note the below analyst estimates:
- Goldman Sachs have a central estimate of 217k for initial claims in a range of 211-225k, whilst they see continuing claims at 1917k in a range of 1885-1930k.
- JPMorgan meanwhile also see 217k for initial claims whilst they see continuing claims as having held constant at 1927k.
NATGAS: Venture Global in Talks with Ukraine for more LNG Deliveries, Reuters
Ukraine is seeking more cargoes from Venture’s Plaquemines facility as the embattled nation approaches the winter heating season, according to Reuters sources
- Venture is in talks with Ukraine’s DTEK to procure more LNG cargoes after a year of gas infrastructure attacks by the Russians.
- Venture Global CEO Michael Sabel met with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday October 16.
- DTEK signed an agreement in 2024 for an undisclosed amount of LNG from the facility, as well as 2 mtpa from Calcasieu Pass Phase 2 currently under construction.
- Plaquemines currently has spare capacity to deliver more cargoes to Ukraine on the spot market, per Reuters.
- Plaquemines now sends out the second highest LNG volume in the US, with feedgas demand averaging 3.45 bcf/d according to MNI figures.
