US crude oil inventories, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 4.3 million bbl for the week ended Aug. 31, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration.
EIA released the Weekly Petroleum Status Report a day later than normal because of the US Labor Day holiday on Sept. 3.
At 401.5 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are at the 5-year average for this time of year, the report indicated.
The report said total motor gasoline inventories increased by 1.8 million bbl and are at the 5-year range. Finished gasoline and blending components inventories both increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 3.1 million bbl last week and are about 6% below the 5-year average for this time of year.
Propane-propylene inventories increased by 2 million bbl last week and are about 12% below the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.
US refinery inputs averaged 17.6 million b/d for the week ended Aug. 31, about 81,000 b/d more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 96.6% of capacity.
Gasoline production decreased, averaging 10.2 million b/d. Distillate fuel production increased, averaging 5.4 million b/d.
US crude oil imports averaged 7.7 million b/d, up by 229,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged 7.9 million b/d, 0.5% less than the same period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 988,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 286,000 b/d.
