EIA: US crude inventories up 3.5 million bbl

US crude oil inventories for the week ended Oct. 10, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, increased by 3.5 million bbl from the previous week, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

While the federal government remains shutdown, the data was released 1 day later than usual due to the EIA’s regular holiday schedule.

At 423.8 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are about 4% below the 5-year average for this time of year, the EIA report indicated.

EIA said total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 300,000 bbl from last week and are slightly below the 5-year average for this time of year. Finished gasoline inventories and blending components inventories both decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 4.5 million bbl last week and are about 7% below the 5-year average for this time of year.

Propane-propylene inventories increased by 1.9 million bbl from last week and are 11% above the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.

US crude oil refinery inputs averaged 15.1 million b/d for the week ended Oct. 10, about 1.2 million b/d less than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 85.7% of capacity.

Gasoline production decreased, averaging 9.4 million b/d. Distillate fuel production decreased by 577,000 b/d, averaging 4.6 million b/d.

US crude oil imports averaged 5.5 million b/d, down 878,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged 6.1 million b/d, 2.4% less than the same 4-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 532,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 160,000 b/d.