U.S natural gas prices have been depressed as the upstart shale oil industry has pumped out a significant amount of natural gas as a by product to crude oil, inundating the market with new supply. Consequently, U.S. light natural gas has been trading at relatively cheap level, compared to the rest of the world.
“We have seen interest around the world in accessing Henry Hub indexed natural gas because it comes from a stable source, it is affordable, and U.S. LNG has the most flexible contract terms in the market,” Jack Fusco, chief executive of Cheniere, told the WSJ. “The world is becoming more knowledgeable and comfortable with Henry Hub.”
Related: Hotter Temps Don’t Always Heat Up Nat Gas ETFs
If the U.S. is able to tap into the global demand for natural gas, we might find further support for natural gas futures ahead, which may further bolster related ETF options like the United States Natural Gas Fund (NYSEArca: UNG), one of the most heavily traded natural gas-related ETFs.
For more information on the natgas market, visit our natural gas category.