U.S. refiners set more records

The American Petroleum Institute reports U.S. gasoline production averaged 7,999,000 b/d in August, a record for that month. API said overall refinery inputs were a record 15,322,000 b/d in August, and refinery utilization exceeded 98%. Crude oil imports surged to a record 8,508,000 b/d. API said tight gasoline supplies in July caused U.S. refiners to emphasize gasoline output in August. It noted that deliveries of petroleum products to the domestic market, a key measure of demand, were flat in

Sept. 22, 1997

2 min read

The American Petroleum Institute reports U.S. gasoline production averaged 7,999,000 b/d in August, a record for that month.

API said overall refinery inputs were a record 15,322,000 b/d in August, and refinery utilization exceeded 98%. Crude oil imports surged to a record 8,508,000 b/d.

API said tight gasoline supplies in July caused U.S. refiners to emphasize gasoline output in August. It noted that deliveries of petroleum products to the domestic market, a key measure of demand, were flat in August, averaging 18,641,000 b/d, or down 0.1% from a year ago.

"Although demand for gasoline has been high this summer, gasoline deliveries in August decreased 0.4% from a year ago. Deliveries of distillate (diesel fuel and home heating oil) and kerosine/jet fuel were up. Residual fuel (heavy oil) deliveries fell."

Heating oil stocks

API predicted U.S. winter heating oil supplies should be as plentiful as in previous years. Stocks of distillate (home heating oil and diesel fuel) at the end of August were 129,400,000 bbl, 19 million bbl more than last year.

It reported August gasoline deliveries averaged 8,310,000 b/d, down 0.4% from a year ago. Reformulated gasoline deliveries were up 3.6% for the month. Distillate deliveries were up 1.6% at 3,230,000 b/d. API said diesel demand was up because of growth in truck traffic. Kerosine jet fuel deliveries averaged 1,644,000 b/d, up 4.1% as airline passenger traffic continued to grow. Residual fuel deliveries were down 14.7% at 743,000 b/d as cooler temperatures in August slowed heavy oil use by electric utilities. Refinery utilization was 98.2% in August.