EIA: US crude inventories down 6.2 million bbl

US crude oil inventories for the week ended Apr. 24, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 6.2 million bbl from the previous week, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

At 459.5 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 6.1 million bbl from last week and are 2% 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 11% below the 5-year average for this time of year.

Propane-propylene inventories decreased by 1.1 million bbl from last week and are 62% above the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.

US crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.1 million b/d for the week ended Apr. 24, 85,000 b/d more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 89.6% of capacity.

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

US crude oil imports averaged 5.8 million b/d, down 329,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged 5.9 million b/d, 0.7% more than the same 4-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 344,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 126,000 b/d.