Coquest

Your Daily Energy Report for August 22, 2025

Posted on 2025-08-22

Crude Oil

Crude Oil futures for October settled up $.14 or .22% at $63.66. Oil prices rose on Friday, heading for its first weekly advance in three weeks as optimism for a quick U.S.-mediated resolution to the Russia–Ukraine conflict faded. News outlets highlighted Russian strikes close to the EU frontier along with Ukrainian attacks on a refinery inside Russia. While Moscow pressed for sweeping concessions, President Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would not cede territory. Meanwhile, Washington increased pressure on India over its reliance on Russian barrels, unveiling a 25% duty on Indian exports starting August 27, with crude representing roughly a third of the country’s import bill. Additional support for prices came from U.S. data showing the largest nationwide stock draw since mid-June, though builds at Cushing continued to hint at softer end-user demand.
 

Natural Gas

Natural Gas futures for September settled down -$.128 or -4.529% at $2.698. Natural gas prices slipped today, the weakest level since November 2024, amid ample supply conditions. Output across the Lower 48 has averaged 108.4 bcfd so far in August, edging above the July record of 107.9 bcfd. Even with above-normal summer heat, storage inventories remain comfortably stocked—running about 5.8% higher than seasonal norms. The most recent storage build came in below the five-year average, hinting at softer demand pressures. Export activity has inched higher, with LNG feedgas flows averaging 15.8 bcfd this month. With forecasts calling for near-normal weather into early September, consumption is unlikely to surge, leaving prices under downside pressure despite the occasional bounce.
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