US crude oil inventories for the week ended Dec. 13, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 1.1 million bbl from the previous week, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration.
Separately, the American Petroleum Institute on Dec. 17 reported a build in US crude supplies of 4.7 million bbl for the week.
At 446.8 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are 4% above the 5-year average for this time of year, the EIA report indicated.
EIA said total motor gasoline inventories increased by 2.5 million bbl and are 5% above the 5-year range for this time of year. Finished gasoline inventories decreased while blending component inventories increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 1.5 million bbl and are about 7% below the 5-year average for this time of year.
Propane-propylene inventories decreased by 2.5 million bbl last week and are about 10% above the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.
US refinery inputs averaged 16.6 million b/d for the week ended Dec. 13, about 35,000 b/d less than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 90.6% of capacity.
Gasoline production increased, averaging 9.8 million b/d. Distillate fuel production decreased, averaging 5.1 million b/d.
US crude oil imports averaged 6.6 million b/d, down 308,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged 6.4 million b/d, 15.1% less than the same period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 519,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 178,000 b/d.
