Natural gas futures clawed back some of their recent losses early Monday as soft production and hints of strengthening export demand supported prices.

NGI Morning Natural Gas Price & Markets Coverage

Coming off a 6.3-cent sell-off in Friday’s session, the June Nymex contract was up 2.3 cents to $1.946/MMBtu at around 8:45 a.m. ET.

The May contract rolled off the board late last week at $1.614, in line with the bargain basement final settlement prices of the April and March contracts, EBW Analytics Group analyst Eli Rubin observed.

“The June contract will attempt to break the bearish stranglehold,” but it faces pressure from physical market prices trading well shy of the Nymex front month, according to Rubin.

Henry Hub averaged $1.405 for weekend and Monday delivery, according to Daily Gas Price Index...