U.S. natural gas futures edged lower on Tuesday morning, trading down 0.5% at $3.152 per million British thermal units. The market paused as traders awaited signs of recovery in liquefied natural gas feedgas flows following recent maintenance work that disrupted supplies.

Dennis Kissler of BOK Financial noted in a client note that cooling demand forecasts are increasing heading into the weekend and beyond. Weather-driven consumption typically supports prices during summer months when air conditioning usage rises across residential and commercial sectors.

Despite the added cooling demand expectations, traders maintain a cautious stance. Storage levels sit 6.2% above the five-year average, providing a buffer against supply disruptions. This ample inventory position, combined with recent LNG demand weakness, keeps investors inclined to sell rallies rather than chase price gains.

Natural gas markets remain caught between competing forces: rising seasonal demand expectations versus well-supplied inventories and uncertain LNG export flows. With prices hovering near recent lows, the path forward depends heavily on whether LNG facilities resume normal operations this week.