US crude oil inventories, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, increased by 5 million bbl for the week ended Mar. 9 vs. the previous week, the US Energy Information Administration said.
The latest estimate is 430.9 million bbl, putting oil in storage in the lower half of the average range for this time of year, EIA said.
The report also said total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 6.3 million bbl and are in the upper half of the average range. Finished gasoline and blended components inventories both decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 4.4 million bbl last week and are in the lower half of the average range for this time of year.
Propane-propylene inventories are again in the lower half of the average range with a decrease of 2.3 million bbl last week, EIA said.
US refinery inputs averaged 16.4 million b/d for the week ended Mar. 9, about 432,000 b/d higher than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 90% of capacity.
Gasoline production increased, averaging 10.3 million b/d. Distillate fuel production decreased, averaging 4.5 million b/d.
US crude oil imports averaged 7.6 million b/d, down 418,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged 7.5 million b/d, 1.8% less than the same period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 604,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 223,000 b/d.
