WTI crude oil futures tacked onto earlier gains following the inventory report from the EIA which confirmed the substantial decrease from the API reported last night that contradicted analyst expectations for a build. Additionally helping to support oil prices was the draw in gasoline stocks that was much more than expected, while distillate stocks increased despite refineries continuing to decrease output.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Crude stock dropped 6.2 million bbls.
Large part of the drop was explained by adjustments.
Most analyst and traders are calling this a "catch-up" report.
East coast gasoline glut disappears on the back of Colonial Pipeline outage.
See last weeks report ( here).
SUMMARY:
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.6 million barrels per day during the week ending September 16, 2016, 143,000 barrels per day less than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 92.0% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 10.1 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production increased last week, averaging about 5.0 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged 8.3 million barrels per day last week, up by 247,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports averaged 8.1 million barrels per day, 9.0% above the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 569,000 barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 76,000 barrels per day last week.
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 6.2 million barrels from the previous week. At 504.6 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are at historically high levels for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 3.2 million barrels last week, but are well above the upper limit of the average range. Both finished gasoline inventories and blending components inventories decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 2.2 million barrels last week and are well above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories rose 0.7 million barrels last week and are above the upper limit of the average range. Total commercial petroleum inventories decreased by 6.0 million barrels last week.
Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged 20.3 million barrels per day, up by 3.0% from the same period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged over 9.5 million barrels per day, up by 4.1% from the same period last year. Distillate fuel product supplied averaged about 3.6 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, down by 5.9% from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied is up 8.1% compared to the same four-week period last year.
Complete report ( here )