Natural gas prices climbed higher in August bidweek trading as markets mulled prospects for ongoing seasonal cooling demand, strong power burns and robust Mexican export levels. NGI’s August Bidweek National Avg. rose 23.0 cents month/month to $1.680/MMBtu.

The August Nymex natural gas futures contract rolled off the board last Wednesday at $1.854, up 5.4 cents day/day as the market braced for a light storage report for the week ending July 23 and welcomed news of robust U.S. export activity to the south.

Genscape Inc. noted that U.S. pipeline supply to Mexico reached highs during the July 20-24 period. The United States exported nearly 6.4 Bcf/d to Mexico and set a record for a five-day period.

“The overall surge in U.S. exports to Mexico indicates that the latter’s...