US crude oil inventories for the week ended Feb. 18, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, increased by 4.5 million bbl from the previous week, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration.
The report was issued one day later than usual due to the Feb. 21 US holiday.
At 416.0 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are 9% below the 5-year average for this time of year, the EIA report indicated.
EIA said total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 600,000 bbl and are 3% below the 5-year range for this time of year. Finished gasoline inventories and blending component inventories both decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 600,000 bbl and are about 18% below the 5-year average for this time of year.
Propane-propylene inventories decreased by 3.9 million bbl last week and are about 22% below the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.
US refinery inputs averaged 15.2 million b/d for the week ended Feb. 18, about 344,000 b/d more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 87.4% of capacity.
Gasoline production increased, averaging 9.3 million b/d. Distillate fuel production increased, averaging 4.7 million b/d.
US crude oil imports averaged 6.8 million b/d, up 1.0 million b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged 6.5 million b/d, 14.1% more than the same period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 416,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 416,000 b/d.