Crude: -0.562M
Cushing: -0.026M
Gasoline: -1.125M
Distillates: -2.325M
Solid report this week. I always like to see product draws. I have been writing about my concern that gasoline demand was rolling over the last few weeks, but it is starting to tick up again. I still remain cautious, as refinery utilization was slightly down about 1.5% from last week. Gasoline inventories are 4% above the 5 years average, not bad all things considered, especially during low demand season. Cushing inventories are a bit high compared to prior years, as usually producers and refiners look to offload as many barrels as possible before the December 31st tax assessment date. Interesting note, propane is still continuing to draw due to the surge in outdoor dining. Total commercial petroleum inventories decreased by 10.7 million
barrels last week.
Inventories 12/18/2020 vs last 5 years
Refinery Utilization by PADD
Imports were virtually flat exports ticked up
Cushing Inventories (the actual WTI contract)
Crude Balance vs Inventories
Gasoline Balance vs Inventories
Distillate Balance vs Inventories
US inventories in million barrels
US products demand in mbpd-gasoline ticking back up
EIA
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 14.0 million barrels per day during the week ending
December 18, 2020 which was 169,000 barrels per day less than the previous week’s average.
Refineries operated at 78.0% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased
last week, averaging 8.8 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production decreased last week,
averaging 4.6 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged 5.6 million barrels per day last week, up by 140,000 barrels per
day from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 5.7
million barrels per day, 12.9% less than the same four-week period last year. Total motor
gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week
averaged 571,000 barrels per day, and distillate fuel imports averaged 444,000 barrels per day.
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve)
decreased by 0.6 million barrels from the previous week. At 499.5 million barrels, U.S. crude oil
inventories are about 11% above the five year average for this time of year. Total motor gasoline
inventories decreased by 1.1 million barrels last week and are about 4% above the five-year
average for this time of year. Finished gasoline inventories increased while blending components
inventories decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 2.3 million barrels last
week and are about 10% above the five-year average for this time of year. Propane/propylene
inventories decreased by 2.3 million barrels last week and are about 4% above the five-year average for this time of year. Total commercial petroleum inventories decreased by 10.7 million
barrels last week.
Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged 18.9 million barrels a day, down
by 8.7% from the same period last year. Over the past four weeks, motor gasoline product
supplied averaged 7.9 million barrels a day, down by 13.8% from the same period last year.
Distillate fuel product supplied averaged 3.8 million barrels a day over the past four weeks,
down by 1.7% from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied was down 32.9%
compared with the same four-week period last year.
FULL REPORT HERE