US crude oil inventories for the week ended Mar. 25, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 3.4 million bbl from the previous week, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration.
At 409.9 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are 14% below the 5-year average for this time of year, the EIA report indicated.
EIA said total motor gasoline inventories increased by 800,000 bbl and are at the 5-year range for this time of year. Finished gasoline inventories and blending component inventories both increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 1.4 million bbl and are about 16% below the 5-year average for this time of year.
Propane-propylene inventories increased 100,000 bbl last week and are about 23% below the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.
US refinery inputs averaged 15.9 million b/d for the week ended Mar. 25, about 35,000 b/d more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 92.1% of capacity.
Gasoline production decreased, averaging 9.1 million b/d. Distillate fuel production increased, averaging 5.1 million b/d.
US crude oil imports averaged 6.3 million b/d, down 227,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged 6.2 million b/d, 11.9% more than the same period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 656,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 155,000 b/d.