Canadian natural gas exports to the US fell 7.3% from July to August to around 237.1 million cubic meters/day, according to statistics released by the National Energy Board Wednesday.
The biggest drop in exports was seen at the Kingsgate point in British Columbia, a gateway to US Pacific Northwest markets.
Market sources attributed the fall to a return to seasonal temperatures in the region and the opening of the Ruby Pipeline -- which brings supplies from the Rockies to Malin, Oregon, where it then can access Northern California markets -- in late July, which pushed back some western Canadian volumes.
Kingsgate exports fell 6.3 million cu m/d to 40.6 million cu m/d from July to August, the NEB said.
Farther east, the Iroquois export point saw volumes drop 5.3 million cu m/d to 13.6 million cu m/d in August from July levels.
That fall also corresponded with a return to seasonal temperatures in downstream US Northeast markets after sweltering weather in July.
Meanwhile, Canadian imports from the US rose by about 10.6% to 21.2 billion cu m in August from 19.2 billion cu m in July, the data shows.
With the waning of temperatures in the Northeast, storage plays --- particularly into Ontario, home of the massive Dawn complex --- resumed in earnest.
Imports via border points in Ontario made up nearly 94% of the total, Platts analysis of the NEB data showed.
The NEB also released data on liquefied natural gas imports into Canada at its lone terminal, Canaport in New Brunswick.
A single long-term cargo, carrying some 79.7 million cu m, berthed in August having traveled from Trinidad & Tobago. The volume is a slight decline from the 82.3 million cu m received, also from a lone ship from Trinidad and Tobago, in July.
No short-term cargoes arrived at Canaport, according to NEB data. The NEB defines short-term volumes as those bought under a contract of less than two years in length.
