EIA: US crude inventories down 9.3 million bbl

US crude oil inventories, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 9.5 million bbl for the week ended Sept. 12, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

At 415.4 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are about 5% below the 5-year average for this time of year, the report indicated.

EIA said total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 2.3 million bbl and are about 1% below the 5-year range. Both finished gasoline inventories and blending components inventories decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 4 million bbl last week and are about 8% below the 5-year average for this time of year.

Propane-propylene inventories increased by 1.3 million bbl last week and are 12% above the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.

US refinery inputs averaged 16.4 million b/d for the week ended Sept. 12, about 394,000 b/d less than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 93.3% of capacity.

Gasoline production decreased, averaging 9.4 million b/d. Distillate fuel production decreased by 274,000 b/d, averaging 5 million b/d.

US crude oil imports averaged 5.7 million b/d, down by 579,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged 6.2 million b/d, 2.46% less than the same period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 569,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 95,000 b/d.