WTI crude oil futures slipped further into the red following the EIA’s weekly inventory report which revealed a substantially larger than expected build in crude and distillate stocks, in addition to a lighter draw from gasoline stocks than was forecast as refiners surprisingly hiked output.
Supporting the sell off:
Analysts were looking for a 1.2 million barrel drop in gasoline stocks vs the news they only fell by 691,000 barrels.
There were also expectations for a 157,000-barrel decline in distillate stockpiles vs the news they rose by 1.5 million barrels.
See last weeks report ( here).
SUMMARY:
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged over 16.6 million barrels per day during the week ending August 26, 2016, 64,000 barrels per day less than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 92.8% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production decreased slightly last week, averaging over 10.0 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production increased last week, averaging about 5.0 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged over 8.9 million barrels per day last week, up by 275,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports averaged over 8.5 million barrels per day, 11.4% above the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 832,000 barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 128,000 barrels per day last week.
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 2.3 million barrels from the previous week. At 525.9 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are at historically high levels for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 0.7 million barrels last week, but are well above the upper limit of the average range. Finished gasoline inventories remained unchanged while blending components inventories decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 1.5 million barrels last week and are near the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories rose 2.4 million barrels last week and are above the upper limit of the average range. Total commercial petroleum inventories increased by 4.5 million barrels last week.
Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged about 20.6 million barrels per day, up by 1.3% from the same period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged about 9.7 million barrels per day, up by 1.8% from the same period last year. Distillate fuel product supplied averaged about 3.8 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, up by 1.7% from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied is up 9.9% compared to the same four-week period last year.
Complete report ( here )