NYMEX natural gas futures settled at $2.76 per MMBtu for the week ending August 23, 2026, up 1.47% week-on-week, according to a research report. US natural gas storage totaled 3.169 trillion cubic feet as of August 14, up 16 billion cubic feet from the previous week but down 28 billion cubic feet year-on-year, or 0.9%, while standing 185 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, or 6.2%.
In the near term, despite positive geopolitical signals, slow European storage progress and peak summer demand were expected to support natural gas prices. Medium-term, Europe's energy supply structure remained fragile, and geopolitical competition and seasonal demand fluctuations could cause sharp price swings. Natural gas is a key feedstock for European ammonia, methanol and hydrogen production.
