US Natural Gas Stocks Fall More than Expected

US energy firms withdrew 54 billion cubic feet of natural gas from storage in the week ended March 20, exceeding expectations for a 44 bcf draw. This compares with a 33 bcf injection during the same period last year and an average decline of 21 bcf over the past five years. Total stockpiles fell to 1.829 trillion cubic feet, standing about 5.2% above year-ago levels and roughly 0.8% above the five-year average. In the previous week, utilities had added 35 bcf to storage.

US energy firms withdrew billion cubic feet of natural gas from storages on the first week of March, less than market expectations of a 42 bcf withdrawal. It was the lowest pull in gas inventories since the start of the year and tying for the lowest pull since the third week of the third week of the withdrawal season in early December, suggesting companies may be close to the end of the season. The pulls were focused solely on the East and Midwest regions, which saw continued cold weather through the start of the month, enough to offset builds in other parts of the country. Still, inventories remained 8.3% higher than the comparative period in the previous year, while remaining 0.9% below the current five-year average.

US energy firms withdrew 132 billion cubic feet of natural gas from storage in the week ended February 27, 2026, slightly above expectations for a 121 bcf draw. Total stockpiles dropped to 1.886 trillion cubic feet, leaving inventories 6.5% above year ago levels and 2.2% under the five year average. The latest decline follows a 52 bcf withdrawal in the previous week.