US natural gas futures climbed to $2.93 per MMBtu but remained close to a one-week low, as a milder weather outlook and rising inventories continued to cap prices. Forecasts call for temperatures to hover near seasonal norms through early June, tempering expectations for stronger power-sector demand.
The latest EIA data showed that energy firms injected 101 bcf of gas into storage in the week ending May 15, exceeding both market expectations for a 95-bcf build and the five-year average increase of 92 bcf for the same period. The larger-than-expected build reinforced concerns about ample supply.
Additional downward pressure came from weaker feedgas demand at export facilities, with flows to major US LNG terminals easing from a record 18.8 bcfd in April to around 17.0 bcfd in May amid seasonal maintenance at plants including Golden Pass LNG and Freeport LNG.
Some support for sentiment emerged after reports indicated that three US LNG cargoes are scheduled to arrive in China in June, marking the first such deliveries since February 2025.
