• U.S. liquefied natural gas exports were near record levels
  • Production was flat and the weather-driven demand outlook improved
  • Cash prices advanced 15 cents amid winter conditions

Natural gas futures advanced Monday – the first trading session of 2021 – building on the nearly 12-cent gain to finish last year, with U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports strong, production flat and the weather-driven demand outlook improved.

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The February Nymex gas futures contract settled at $2.581/MMBtu, up 4.2 cents day/day. March rose 3.5 cents to $2.561.

NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg. climbed 18.5 cents to $2.625.

Bespoke Weather Services said forecasts over the holiday weekend shifted “materially colder,” tacking on about 20 gas-weighted degree days to the outlook through...