U.S. crude oil and fuel stockpiles fell last week, as demand continued to outstrip supply, with commercial crude inventories drawing down even as more strategic reserves entered the market.
Crude inventories fell by 5.1 million barrels in the week to May 27 to 414.7 million barrels, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.3 million-barrel drop.
The fall comes even though the U.S. government released more than 5 million barrels of reserves in the most recent week and as net crude imports rose by 83,000 bbl/d, the EIA said.
Refining runs fell by 236,000 bbl/d last week, the EIA said, dropping the overall utilization rate 0.6 percentage point to 92.6% nationwide, which is still seasonally strong, as the U.S. moves into peak summer driving season.
“Gasoline inventories showed a draw as implied demand kicked higher, despite record prices at the pump, while distillate inventories showed a minor draw too amid a tick higher in implied demand,” said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst, Americas, at Kpler.
U.S. gasoline stocks were only marginally lower, declining by 711,000 barrels in the week, while distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, dipped by 530,000 barrels.
Distillate stocks remain at all-time lows on the U.S. East Coast, which has few refineries and depends on transit from other parts of the United States and foreign imports. Refining use on the East Coast is running at more than 98%, highest in nearly four years.
Oil prices moved up after the data, with U.S. crude gaining $1.13, or 1%, to $116.38/bbl, and Brent up 96 cents to $117.27/bbl as of 11:32 a.m. EDT (1532 GMT).
Recommended Reading
Exxon’s Payara Hits 220,000 bbl/d Ceiling in Just Three Months
2024-02-05 - ExxonMobil Corp.’s third development offshore Guyana in the Stabroek Block — the Payara project— reached its nameplate production capacity of 220,000 bbl/d in January 2024, less than three months after commencing production and ahead of schedule.
What's Affecting Oil Prices This Week? (Feb. 5, 2024)
2024-02-05 - Stratas Advisors says the U.S.’ response (so far) to the recent attack on U.S. troops has been measured without direct confrontation of Iran, which reduces the possibility of oil flows being disrupted.
Tinker Associates CEO on Why US Won’t Lead on Oil, Gas
2024-02-13 - The U.S. will not lead crude oil and natural gas production as the shale curve flattens, Tinker Energy Associates CEO Scott Tinker told Hart Energy on the sidelines of NAPE in Houston.
What's Affecting Oil Prices This Week? (March 18, 2024)
2024-03-18 - On average, Stratas Advisors predicts that supply will be at a deficit of 840,000 bbl/d during 2024.
What's Affecting Oil Prices This Week? (March 11, 2024)
2024-03-11 - Stratas Advisors expects oil prices to move higher in the middle of the year, but for the upcoming week, there is no impetus for prices to raise.