WTI crude oil futures tacked onto this morning’s robust gains following the inventory report that showed a larger-than-expected draw in crude oil stocks. However, inventory related gains were kept in check by the crude product stocks as both distillate and gasoline inventories rose more than expected despite refineries surprisingly slowing down output.
*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.
WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS:
OPEC is not dead as the cartel reaches a historic production cut deal.
Option market coming into the meeting priced in a $6 move.
This is just the start of the bull market.
See previous crude oil reports ( here).
SUMMARY:
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.3 million barrels per day during the week ending November 25, 2016, 114,000 barrels per day less than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 89.8% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 10.0 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production increased last week, averaging over 5.2 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged over 7.5 million barrels per day last week, down by 30,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports averaged over 7.7 million barrels per day, 5.3% above the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 851,000 barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 174,000 barrels per day last week.
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 0.9 million barrels from the previous week. At 488.1 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are near the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 2.1 million barrels last week, and are well above the upper limit of the average range. Both Finished gasoline inventories and blending components inventories increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 5.0 million barrels last week and are well above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories fell 1.9 million barrels last week but are near the upper limit of the average range. Total commercial petroleum inventories increased by 0.5 million barrels last week.
Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged over 19.8 million barrels per day, up by 1.0% from the same period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged about 9.2 million barrels per day, up by 0.1% from the same period last year. Distillate fuel product supplied averaged 4.0 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, up by 4.1% from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied is up 6.3% compared to the same four-week period last year.
Complete report ( here )
