The Energy Information Administration (EIA) stunned the natural gas market with a much smaller-than-expected 18 Bcf net injection into storage inventories for the week ending Aug. 18, providing a boost to futures prices that have struggled this week.

The September Nymex contract was about 5.0 cents lower in the minutes leading up to the weekly inventory report, trading at around $2.440/MMBtu. As the print hit the screen, the prompt month bounced to $2.492, roughly flat to Wednesday’s settlement. By 11 a.m. ET, September futures were firmly in the green at $2.549, up 5.2 cents on the day.

“Texas,” said independent weather forecaster Corey Lefkof on energy chat Enelyst.

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