U.S. EIA Natural Gas Storage Surprisingly Low, Below Forecast: Implications for Energy-Sensitive Sectors and the Chemical Industry
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) latest Natural Gas...
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) latest Natural Gas Storage Report for August 2025 has sparked market volatility, revealing a 13 Bcf net injection for the week ending August 15—below the consensus forecast of 18 Bcf and significantly lower than the five-year average of 35 Bcf for this period. While total working gas inventories remain 174 Bcf above the five-year average, the slower-than-expected build signals a critical inflection point for energy-sensitive sectors. This deviation from expectations underscores growing risks of price compression, supply chain disruptions, and cost inflation, particularly for the Chemical Products industry, which relies heavily on natural gas as a feedstock and energy input.
The EIA's data has reinforced a bearish sentiment in the natural gas futures market. Henry Hub spot prices have averaged $2.92/MMBtu, with the September 2025 NYMEX contract settling at $2.83/MMBtu. These levels reflect oversupply pressures, driven by record production (106.44 Bcf/d in July 2025) and robust LNG exports (12.6 Bcf/d). However, the recent slowdown in injections—despite a 20% higher average refill rate compared to the five-year norm—suggests that demand-side factors, such as power generation and export-driven consumption, are beginning to counterbalance the injection season's momentum.
Oil settles higher as traders await Trump statement on Russia-Ukraine
Oil prices settled higher on Thursday, bouncing off early...
Oil prices settled higher on Thursday, bouncing off early losses after the White House said U.S. President Donald Trump was not happy when he learned that Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight.
Brent crude futures settled up 57 cents, or 0.8%, at $68.62 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 45 cents, or 0.7%, to close at $64.60 a barrel.
Russia hit Ukraine with deadly missiles and drone strikes early on Thursday, killing at least 21 people in Kyiv, city officials said. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said it used drones to hit two Russian oil refineries overnight.
Trump will make a statement on the situation later on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. Both oil benchmarks were down about 1% earlier in the session, but turned positive after her comments.
Traders are also watching for India's response to pressure from the U.S. to stop buying Russian oil, after Trump doubled tariffs on imports from India to as much as 50% on Wednesday.
After expanding at an annualized rate of 12% from 2020 to 2024, US jet...
After expanding at an annualized rate of 12% from 2020 to 2024, US jet fuel consumption growth has slowed in 2025 as air travel demand eases and efficiency improves, according to the Energy Information Administration. The slowdown reflects weaker passenger volumes, economic headwinds and more fuel-efficient aircraft fleets, with the trend expected to continue through 2026.
Report: Tariffs could slow grid modernization, raise costs
New tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper could hinder the pace of grid...
New tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper could hinder the pace of grid modernization and clean energy projects, according to a report from Morningstar. The tariffs could increase the cost of transmission projects by up to 30%, potentially making some projects financially unviable, the analysts say. Tariffs also could lead to procurement delays and higher utility bills, posing challenges for state regulators and creating credit risks for utilities.
