據管道&天然氣雜志網9月17日路透社報道，美國天然氣期貨周四下跌近10％，至六周低點，因為上周儲量超過預期，使庫存有望在10月底前達到創紀錄高位。

據美國能源信息署(EIA)表示，截至9月11日的一周內當周，公用事業公司向儲存處注入了890億立方英尺的天然氣。

這一數字高于路透調查中分析師預測的790億立方英尺，也高于去年同期的820億立方英尺和五年(2015-19年)平均770億立方英尺的增長。

甚至在EIA公布報告之前，油價就已承壓，因颶風薩莉(Sally)導致的停產油井重新投產，且預測未來兩周天氣將轉溫和，需求將下降，預計產量將從兩年低點回升。

即近月天然氣期貨下跌22.5美分，收于2.042美元/百萬英熱單位，跌幅9.9%，為7月31日以來的最低水平。這是該合約自2019年1月以來的最大單日百分比跌幅。

伊利諾伊州加利納（Galena）的Ritterbusch & Associates總裁Jim Ritterbusch表示，今天的下跌幅度強烈地暗示了一些保證金的拋售，因為剩余的最近獲得的投機性長線被迫清算。

最近幾周，投機者將其長期凈頭寸提高至近三年來的最高水平，盡管預期創紀錄的庫存將使價格上漲和今冬不太可能出現天然氣短缺。

根據數據提供商Refinitiv表示，美國本土48個州的天然氣日產量從周三的848 億立方英尺的兩年低點，升至周四的853億立方英尺，這是由于與薩利相關的停工。

隨著天氣轉涼，Refinitiv預計包括出口在內的天然氣日需求量將從本周的853億立方英尺降至下周的819億立方英尺。

郝芬 譯自 管道&天然氣雜志網

原文如下：

U.S. Gas Futures Fall to 6-Week Low on Big Storage Build

U.S. natural gas futures tumbled almost 10% to a six-week low on Thursday as a bigger-than-expected storage build last week kept stockpiles on track to reach record highs by the end of October.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said utilities injected 89 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas into storage in the week ended Sept. 11.

That is higher than the 79-bcf build analysts forecast in a Reuters poll and compares with an increase of 82 bcf during the same week last year and a five-year (2015-19) average build of 77 bcf.

Even before the EIA released its report, prices were already under pressure with output expected to rise from a two-year low as producers return wells shut-in for Hurricane Sally and on forecasts calling for milder weather and lower cooling demand over the next two weeks.

Front-month gas futures fell 22.5 cents, or 9.9%, to settle at $2.042 per million British thermal units, their lowest since July 31. That was the contract's biggest one-day percentage loss since January 2019.

"The magnitude of today’s decline strongly suggested some margin call selling as remaining recently acquired speculative longs were forced to liquidate," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois.

In recent weeks, speculators had boosted their net long positions to the highest in almost three years despite expectations record stockpiles would make price spikes and gas shortages unlikely this winter.

Data provider Refinitiv said output in the Lower 48 U.S. states was on track to rise to 85.3 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) on Thursday from a two-year low of 84.8 bcfd on Wednesday due to Sally-related shutdowns.

With cooler weather coming, Refinitiv projected demand, including exports, would fall from 85.3 bcfd this week to 81.9 bcfd next week.