WTI crude oil slightly pared back on this morning’s steep losses despite the EIA’s inventory report which showed a substantially larger build than expected, confirming the sizable build reported by the API last night. Gasoline stocks fell more than expected while distillate’s draw was in line with expectations despite refiners hiking output which was taken as a positive.
*Important Disclaimer: Beginning ON 10/13/16 the EIA will no longer include crude oil lease stocks in U.S. total commercial crude oil inventory data. Crude oil lease stocks refer to oil (currently about 31 million barrels) that is stored in tanks at sites across the United States where producers are drilling on leased land. Lease stocks are not yet available for commercial use, and in many cases, operators do not count them as production until the oil is transferred off the lease.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Oil prices fall to pre-Algiers meeting following surprise crude stock build.
Imports increased 2 million b/d largely explaining the build.
Traders had said since last week that imports from last week's report were understated.
See previous crude oil reports ( here).
SUMMARY:
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged over 15.4 million barrels per day during the week ending October 28, 2016, 104,000 barrels per day less than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 85.2% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production decreased slightly last week, averaging over 9.8 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production increased last week, averaging about 4.7 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged 9.0 million barrels per day last week, up by 2.0 million barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports averaged 7.7 million barrels per day, 7.0% above the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 458,000 barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 60,000 barrels per day last week.
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 14.4 million barrels from the previous week. At 482.6 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are at the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 2.2 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 decreased by 1.8 million barrels last week but are well above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories rose 0.3 million barrels last week and are near the upper limit of the average range. Total commercial petroleum inventories increased by 9.0 million barrels last week.
Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged 20.2 million barrels per day, up by 2.6% from the same period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged 9.1 million barrels per day, down by 1.2% from the same period last year. Distillate fuel product supplied averaged about 4.1 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, up by 3.7% from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied is up 5.7% compared to the same four-week period last year.
Complete report ( here )
