Crude Oil Summary (EIA):
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.1 million barrels per day during the week ending December 8, 2023, which was 104 thousand barrels per day less than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 90.2% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.5 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production decreased last week, averaging 5.0 million barrels per day. U.S. crude oil imports averaged 6.5 million barrels per day last week, decreased by 1.0 million barrels per day from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.6 million barrels per day, 1.6% more than the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 715 thousand barrels per day, and distillate fuel imports averaged 205 thousand barrels per day. U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 4.3 million barrels from the previous week. At 440.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 2% below the five year average for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 0.4 million barrels from last week and are about 2% below the five year average for this time of year. Finished gasoline inventories decreased last week and blending components inventories increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 1.5 million barrels last week and are about 12% below the five year average for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories decreased by 1.0 million barrels from last week and are 18% above the five year average for this time of year. Total commercial petroleum inventories decreased by 10.0 million barrels last week. Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged 19.9 million barrels a day, up by 0.6% from the same period last year. Over the past four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged 8.5 million barrels a day, up by 2.3% from the same period last year. Distillate fuel product supplied averaged 3.7 million barrels a day over the past four weeks, down by 1.1% from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied was up 1.2% compared with the same four-week period last year. The West Texas Intermediate crude oil price fell to $70.87 per barrel on December 8, 2023, $2.83 less than last week’s price, and $0.18 below the price last year. The spot price for conventional gasoline at New York Harbor increased $0.004 to $2.230 per gallon, $0.068 more than the year-ago price. The New York Harbor spot price for No. 2 heating oil fell $0.134 to $2.499 per gallon, $0.124 lower than the price one year ago. The national average retail price for regular gasoline decreased to $3.136 per gallon on December 11, 2023, $0.095 less than last week’s price, and $0.103 below the year-ago price. The national average retail diesel fuel price fell $0.105 to $3.987 per gallon, $0.767 under last year’s price.