Crude Oil Summary (EIA):
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.5 million barrels per day during the week ending December 15, 2023, which was 403 thousand barrels per day more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 92.4% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 10.0 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production decreased last week, averaging 4.9 million barrels per day. U.S. crude oil imports averaged 6.8 million barrels per day last week, increased by 233 thousand barrels per day from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.7 million barrels per day, 7.6% more than the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 537 thousand barrels per day, and distillate fuel imports averaged 225 thousand barrels per day. U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 2.9 million barrels from the previous week. At 443.7 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 1% below the five year average for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 2.7 million barrels from last week and are about 2% below the five year average for this time of year. Both finished gasoline and blending components inventories increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 1.5 million barrels last week and are about 10% below the five year average for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories decreased by 2.2 million barrels from last week and are 19% above the five year average for this time of year. Total commercial petroleum inventories increased by 2.7 million barrels last week. Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged 20.1 million barrels a day, up by 0.2% from the same period last year. Over the past four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged 8.6 million barrels a day, up by 1.9% from the same period last year. Distillate fuel product supplied averaged 3.6 million barrels a day over the past four weeks, down by 4.2% from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied was down 4.0% compared with the same four-week period last year. The price for West Texas Intermediate crude oil increased to $71.05 per barrel on December 15, 2023, $0.18 more than last week’s price, but $3.14 less than the price one year ago. The spot price for conventional gasoline at New York Harbor rose $0.053 to $2.283 per gallon, $0.046 more than last year’s price. The New York Harbor spot price for No. 2 heating oil rose $0.012 to $2.511 per gallon, $0.422 below the year-ago price. The national average retail price for regular gasoline declined to $3.053 per gallon on December 18, 2023, $0.083 less than last week’s price, and $0.067 below the price last year. The national average retail diesel fuel price fell $0.093 to $3.894 per gallon, $0.702 less than the price on year ago.