1. Report Industry Investment Rating - TTF/JKM/HH: Bearish [1] 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - In 2026, the US natural gas market will shift from balance to surplus as supply growth outpaces demand growth [2][21][22] - European natural gas demand lacks incremental drivers, with overall stable consumption due to the absence of extremely cold winters and high gas prices [3][60] - The Chinese natural gas market will remain in a supply - surplus pattern in 2026, though demand may grow slightly more than in 2025 [4][98] - In 2026, the global natural gas market is in a capacity expansion cycle, and major economies face insufficient endogenous consumption growth. Key benchmark prices will face downward pressure [5][116] 3. Summary by Relevant Catalog 3.1 2025 Natural Gas Market Review - The gas price trend in 2025 was generally in line with the previous forecast. Nymex had the highest volatility, and its price was pushed to a high of 5.4 USD/MMBtu in December [15] - Demand in major consumption areas was weak. Chinese demand shifted from high - speed to low - speed growth, European consumption was stagnant, and US total demand growth was dragged down by negative growth in gas - fired power generation [18] - Supply was in the commissioning cycle. North American LNG liquefaction capacity was released in 2025, and there was a structural adjustment in supply between Asia and Europe [19] 3.2 2026 US Natural Gas Market: From Balance to Surplus 3.2.1 US LNG Exports in 2026 - LNG exports will still lead US demand growth, mainly due to partial commissioning of Golden Pass and the ramp - up of Corpus Christi stage 3 [22] - In 2025, US LNG exports increased by 22 million tons, with a significant increase to Europe and a decline to Asia. The US has become highly dependent on the European market [28] - In 2026, US liquefaction capacity will further grow with the commissioning of Golden Pass's first two liquefaction lines, and PNG exports to Mexico will also increase [37][38] 3.2.2 Gas - Fired Power in the Future - In 2025, US gas - fired power generation decreased in the first three quarters, mainly due to the reverse substitution of coal - fired power caused by high gas prices and the repair of coal - fired power ignition spread [39] - Renewable power, especially photovoltaics, will increasingly squeeze gas - fired power. The future new gas - fired power installations will have limited impact on demand [40][41] 3.2.3 US Dry Gas Production in 2026 - US dry gas production is expected to continue growing in 2026, though the growth rate may be lower than in 2025. The growth is related to capital expenditure inertia and price expectations [50] 3.3 Global LNG Expansion and Russia - EU Energy Decoupling - European natural gas demand remains stable overall, with limited growth in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. However, gas - fired power demand has increased, especially in Germany and Poland [60][61][62] - European natural gas supply has undergone significant structural adjustments. Further energy decoupling between Russia and Europe is feasible due to sufficient supply from North America and the Middle East. But Russian LNG may put pressure on the spot market [63] 3.4 More Russian Supplies to Asia Affecting the Spot Market - Chinese natural gas demand entered a low - growth stage in 2025, with industrial demand declining and gas - fired power demand increasing. Supply from domestic production and pipeline imports has squeezed LNG imports [96][97] - In 2026, Chinese natural gas demand may grow slightly, but the market will still be in surplus. More Russian LNG flowing to Asia may depress the spot market price [98] - Japanese and South Korean gas demand has a limited impact on Northeast Asia, and overall Asian demand was weak in 2025 [99] 3.5 Investment Recommendations - In 2026, the main benchmark prices TTF, JKM, and HH will face downward pressure. TTF/JKM volatility will be significantly lower than Nymex, making Nymex more valuable for trading. The Nymex price may fall below 3 USD/MMBtu in 1H26 [5][116]

Group 1 - Ukraine's President Zelensky stated that Russia has lost its energy dominance in Europe, with the U.S. filling the gap left by Moscow and planning investments in Ukraine [1] - Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine plays a role in this transition, asserting that the U.S. will completely push Russian gas out of the European market [1] - The U.S. energy companies are planning to enter the Ukrainian market, including a bilateral gas project to establish a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Odessa, pending negotiations with Turkey [3] Group 2 - The EU has significantly reduced its imports of Russian gas since the onset of the invasion, while increasing imports of U.S. LNG [3] - The EU is preparing for the 19th round of sanctions against Russia, which includes a clause to ban Russian gas imports by the end of 2027 [3] - U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that European countries must stop purchasing Russian oil and gas to enable the U.S. to impose stricter sanctions on Russia [4] Group 3 - The EU has committed to purchasing $750 billion worth of U.S. energy resources by the end of 2028, which is seen as economically beneficial for Europe [4] - Wright highlighted the importance of having reliable energy suppliers that are allies rather than adversaries, linking this to the broader goal of ending the Russia-Ukraine war [4]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights Hungary's response to the EU's forced decoupling from Russian energy, which has resulted in significantly higher energy prices in Europe compared to other countries [1] - Hungary's Foreign Minister Szijjarto stated that the issue of high energy prices can be addressed by introducing more energy sources and constructing additional transportation routes [1] - Discussions were held on the same day between Hungary, Serbia, and Russia regarding the construction of a new oil pipeline connecting Hungary and Serbia [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Spanish Energy Minister stated that decoupling has led to Spain losing synchronization with other European countries after interconnection with France [1] Group 1 - The decoupling has implications for Spain's energy synchronization with the rest of Europe [1]