US Natural Gas Stocks Rise Less than Expected

US energy firms injected 63 billion cubic feet of natural gas into storage in the week ended May 1, below market expectations of 74 bcf. This compares with a 104 bcf build in the same week last year and a five-year average increase of 77 bcf. Total inventories rose to 2.205 trillion cubic feet, standing about 3.5% above year-ago levels and 6.7% above the seasonal average. In the previous week, ending April 24, storage levels increased by 79 bcf.

US energy firms injected 79 billion cubic feet of natural gas into storage in the week ended April 24, broadly in line with expectations of 80 bcf. This compares with a 105 bcf build in the same week last year and a five year average increase of 63 bcf. Total inventories rose to 2.142 trillion cubic feet, standing about 5.7% above year ago levels and 7.7% above the seasonal average. In the previous week ended April 17, storage levels increased by 103 bcf.

US energy firms injected 103 billion cubic feet of natural gas into storage for the week ended April 17, exceeding expectations of 94 bcf. The build was also higher than the 77 bcf added during the same week last year and well above the five year average increase of 64 bcf. Total stockpiles rose to 2.063 trillion cubic feet, leaving inventories about 7.4% above year ago levels and roughly 7.1% above the five year average. The latest increase follows a smaller 59 bcf injection in the previous week, highlighting continued strong inventory builds as the market moves through the spring refill season.