Seen

Whether the long-predicted tide of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports comes to U.S. shores as a torrent or a trickle remains to be seen. The predictions of two industry watchers vary greatly, but they’re both looking to Europe for clues.

Whether the long-predicted tide of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports comes to U.S. shores as a torrent or a trickle remains to be seen. The predictions of two industry watchers vary greatly, but they’re both looking to Europe for clues.

Although some traders earlier in the week had seen a rally in the East as unlikely due to lack of weather demand, the market appeared to defy forecasts of continued moderate temperatures in most of the region Friday by rising at a majority of points Thursday. It reversed a pattern in effect through Wednesday in which minority gains were almost all in the Midcontinent and Rockies; on Thursday those areas, along with some other western points, saw most of the declines.

The pullback in natural gas prices seen last week is just the beginning of a downward slide that could continue for the next six months, according to analysts at Raymond James & Associates Inc.

Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the United States this year will fall “well short” of the 770 Bcf seen last year, likely hitting only 420 Bcf, an amount “staggeringly below” previous projections, according to Houston-based consultancy Waterborne Energy Inc.

Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the United States this year will fall “well short” of the 770 Bcf seen last year, likely hitting only 420 Bcf, an amount “staggeringly below” previous projections, according to Houston-based consultancy Waterborne Energy Inc.”We knew U.S. LNG imports would fall short of 2007 volumes when we saw delays in new production and demand rising in Europe and Asia,” said Waterborne President Steve Johnson.

Natural gas futures on Thursday continued to trade at the elevated price levels last seen post-Hurricane Katrina as traders and market-watchers debated whether fundamentals, the influx of monies into commodities or sympathy with record crude prices, is to blame. April natural gas put in a new high for the move up at $9.815 before settling at $9.742, nearly unchanged from Wednesday’s finish.

Colder-than-normal temperatures will dominate much of the northern United States and warmer-than-normal temperatures will be seen elsewhere through April, WSI Corp. forecasters said last Tuesday.

Colder-than-normal temperatures will dominate much of the northern United States and warmer-than-normal temperatures will be seen elsewhere through April, WSI Corp. forecasters said Tuesday.