UK Natural Gas Futures Rise to 5-1/2-Month High
2026-01-15 17:01
By
Agna Gabriel
1 min. read
UK natural gas futures climbed above 86 pence per therm, their highest level since late July, as colder weather forecasts and supply risks reinforced a winter rally.
Weather models show increasingly cold and dry conditions through the end of the month, first across continental Europe and then in the UK, lifting heating demand and accelerating withdrawals from storage.
A sharp cold snap has already pushed gas consumption to some of the strongest seasonal levels in years.
As a result, EU gas inventories have fallen to around 52.5%, far below roughly 65% at the same point last year, leaving the market more vulnerable to disruptions.
Geopolitical tensions linked to unrest in Iran are also keeping a risk premium in prices, given the potential impact on LNG shipping routes, even though fears of immediate US action have eased.
Adding pressure, parts of Asia are bracing for a cold wave, increasing competition for LNG cargoes and tightening the global gas balance further.