WTI crude oil futures marginally added onto this morning’s gains following the inventory report which revealed a smaller than expected build in crude oil stocks. This was the eighth consecutive week of increases for crude inventory and stocks are at a new all-time high. The inventory related gains were kept in check as the draws from gasoline inventories were smaller than forecast and distillates were in line as refiners hiked 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.
See previous crude oil reports ( here).
SUMMARY:
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged about 15.7 million barrels per day during the week ending February 24, 2017, 393,000 barrels per day more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 86.0% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging about 9.5 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production increased last week, averaging about 4.8 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged 7.6 million barrels per day last week, up by 303,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports averaged 8.2 million barrels per day, 5.1% above the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 457,000 barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 210,000 barrels per day last week.
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 1.5 million barrels from the previous week. At 520.2 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 0.5 million barrels last week, but are above the upper limit of the average range. Finished gasoline inventories decreased while blending components inventories increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 0.9 million barrels last week but are above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories fell 0.5 million barrels last week but are in the upper half of the average range. Total commercial petroleum inventories increased by 0.3 million barrels last week.
Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged over 19.8 million barrels per day, up by 0.9% from the same period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged 8.7 million barrels per day, down by 6.2% from the same period last year. Distillate fuel product supplied averaged about 4.0 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, up by 15.7% from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied is down 4.7% compared to the same fourweek period last year.
Complete report ( here )
