Natural gas futures added to recent gains in early trading Wednesday as supportive trends in both production and exports helped stir bullish sentiment.

NGI Morning Natural Gas Price & Markets Coverage

The May Nymex contract was up 3.7 cents to $1.909/MMBtu as of 8:35 a.m. ET.

The May contract was continuing to enjoy technical momentum heading into Wednesday’s session after crossing the 20-day moving average, according to EBW Analytics Group analyst Eli Rubin.

“LNG is also edging upward to three-week highs on stronger Freeport demand, while supply falters on pipeline maintenance,” Rubin said. “Further near-term upside is possible.”

Wood Mackenzie estimates showed U.S. production down to 98.1 Bcf/d, versus 98.8 Bcf/d a day earlier.

The firm’s updated sample showed volumes out of North Louisiana “continuing...