US crude oil inventories for the week ended Mar. 22, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, increased by 3.2 million bbl from the previous week, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration.
At 448.2 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are about 2% below the 5-year average for this time of year, the EIA report indicated.
EIA said total motor gasoline inventories increased by 1.3 million bbl from last week and are about 1% below the 5-year average for this time of year. Finished gasoline inventories decreased while blending components inventories increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 1.2 million bbl and are about 6% below the 5-year average for this time of year.
Propane-propylene inventories slightly decreased from last week and are 10% above the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.
US crude oil refinery inputs averaged 15.9 million b/d for the week ended Mar. 22, about 148,000 b/d more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 88.7% of capacity.
Gasoline production decreased, averaging 9.2 million b/d. Distillate fuel production increased, averaging 4.8 million b/d.
US crude oil imports averaged 6.7 million b/d, up 424,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged 6.4 million b/d, 7.1% more than the same 4-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 522,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 165,000 b/d.
