中金：维持2026年美国天然气基本面偏紧的判断

Group 1: Natural Gas Market Outlook - The company maintains a tight outlook for the US natural gas market in 2026, expecting NYMEX gas prices to rise to a seasonal fluctuation range of $4-5 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) [1] - Despite a warm winter in Europe, low natural gas inventories will support global LNG market replenishment demand, with expectations for the Dutch TTF gas price to decrease to a range of $9-10 per MMBtu in 2026 [1][5] - Attention is drawn to potential impacts of summer hurricanes on oil production and refining in the Gulf of Mexico [1] Group 2: Climate Impact on Commodity Markets - The company identifies climate shocks as a significant risk embedded in global supply chains, with the La Niña phenomenon re-emerging and a 60% probability of El Niño occurring later in the year [3][4] - The interplay of climate uncertainty and human policy constraints, such as the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism and local production requirements in the US, is expected to create a new phase of "risk nesting" in the commodity market by 2026 [3] Group 3: Weather's Influence on Different Commodity Sectors - In the energy sector, temperature is the core driver, with US natural gas inventories lower than the five-year average, providing a favorable condition for price increases [5] - For non-ferrous metals, heavy rainfall may disrupt production and transportation in key mining regions, affecting costs and supply [6][7] - In the agricultural sector, weather conditions directly impact crop yields, with Brazil's soybean production expected to remain strong despite La Niña, while palm oil prices may face upward pressure due to high inventory levels and Ramadan demand [9]