U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 14.0 million barrels per day during the week ending March 19, 102,000 barrels per day above the previous week's average, according to figures released Wednesday morning by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Refineries operated at 81.1% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.0 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production decreased last week, averaging 3.7 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged 9.4 million barrels per day last week, up 969,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports have averaged 8.9 million barrels per day, 326,000 barrels per day below the same four-week period last year.
Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 623,000 barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 168,000 barrels per day last week.
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 7.3 million barrels from the previous week. At 351.3 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 2.7 million barrels last week, and are above the upper limit of the average range. Both finished gasoline inventories and blending components inventories decreased last week.
Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 2.4 million barrels, and are above the upper boundary of the average range for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories remained unchanged last week and are at the lower limit of the average range. Total commercial petroleum inventories increased by 400,000 barrels last week, and are above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year.
Total products supplied over the last four-week period has averaged 19.4 million barrels per day, up by 3.6% compared to the similar period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline demand has averaged 9.0 million barrels per day, up by 1.2 percent from the same period last year. Distillate fuel demand has averaged 3.8 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, down by 0.9% from the same period last year. Jet fuel demand is 6.4% lower over the last four weeks compared to the same four-week period last year.
