Gas marketing volumes grow in Q3 amid low prices, ongoing consolidation

摘要

Most North American gas marketers continue to grow their physical sales volumes amid ongoing consolidation in the industry, buttressed by relatively low commodity prices and increasing demand. According to Platts' latest ranking, only six of the 25 companies that reported wholesale gas volumes for the third quarters of both 2009 and 2010 posted a year-over-year decline. US gas consumption has grown more than 5% this year compared with 2009, according to the latest figures compiled by the Energy Information Administration, with the largest gains in the power-generation and industrial sectors. Meanwhile, the average NYMEX front-month gas price in the third quarter was $4.38/MMBtu.