EIA: US crude oil inventories down 900,000 bbl

US crude oil inventories for the week ended Apr. 10, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 900,000 bbl from the previous week, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

At 463.8 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 6.3 million bbl from last week and are 1% above 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 3.1 million bbl last week and are about 6% below the 5-year average for this time of year.

Propane-propylene inventories increased by 300,000 bbl from last week and are 68% above the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.

US crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.0 million b/d for the week ended Apr. 10, which was 208,000 b/d less than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 89.6% of capacity.

Gasoline production increased, averaging 9.8 million b/d. Distillate fuel production decreased, averaging 4.9 million b/d.

US crude oil imports averaged 5.3 million b/d, down by 1 million b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.1 million b/d, 1.3% less than the same 4-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 316,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 118,000 b/d.