Feeling the chill? You might be surprised to learn that the recent dip in US natural gas stocks wasn't as dramatic as predicted. Let's dive into the details!
In the week ending January 9, 2026, US energy companies pulled 71 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas from storage. Now, you might be thinking, "That's a lot!" But the market was actually anticipating a much larger withdrawal, around 90 bcf. The reason? Warmer-than-usual temperatures across the US significantly reduced the demand for heating.
To put this into perspective, let's look at some comparisons. During the same week the previous year, a whopping 227 bcf was withdrawn. The five-year average for this period sits at 146 bcf. This highlights just how mild the weather was this year, leading to less gas being used for heating purposes.
So, where do our total gas stockpiles stand? They've dipped to 3.185 trillion cubic feet (tcf). But here's where it gets interesting: This level is approximately 1% higher than what was in storage during the same week the previous year. It's also about 3.4% above the five-year average for this time of year. This indicates a healthy supply, despite the recent draw.
And just to complete the picture, in the prior week, ending January 2nd, utilities withdrew 119 bcf of gas from storage.
What do you think? Does this data change your perspective on the current energy landscape? Do you agree that the mild weather played a significant role? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
