US crude oil inventories for the week ended Aug. 28, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 4.5 million bbl from the previous week, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

At 424.5 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are about 1% above the 5-year average for this time of year, the EIA report indicated.

EIA said total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 1.2 million bbl from last week and are 6% below the 5-year average for this time of year. Finished gasoline inventories increased while blending components inventories decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 800,000 bbl last week and are 14% below the 5-year average for this time of year.

Propane-propylene inventories decreased by 2.1 million bbl from last week and are 25% above the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.

US crude oil refinery inputs averaged 17.5 million b/d for the week ended Aug. 28, which was 102,000 b/d more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 98% 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 6.8 million b/d, up 612,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.7 million b/d, 2% more than the same 4-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 370,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 113,000 b/d.