Summary of Weekly Petroleum Data for the Week Ending July 18, 2008
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 15.1 million barrels per day during the
week ending July 18, down 355 thousand barrels per day from the previous week's
average. Refineries operated at 87.1 percent of their operable capacity last
week. Gasoline production rose last week, averaging 9.2 million barrels per day.
Distillate fuel production decreased last week, averaging 4.6 million barrels
per day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged 9.8 million barrels per day last week, down 985
thousand barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude
oil imports have averaged nearly 10.1 million barrels per day, 144 thousand
barrels per day above the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline
imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last
week averaged 1.1 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 102
thousand barrels per day last week.
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 1.6 million barrels from the previous week. At
295.3 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are in the lower half of the
average range for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories increased
by 2.9 million barrels last week, and are just above the upper boundary of the
average range. Both finished gasoline inventories and gasoline blending
components inventories increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories
increased by 2.4 million barrels, and are in the upper half of the average range
for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories increased by 0.3 million
barrels last week but remain below the lower limit of the average range. Total
commercial petroleum inventories increased by 1.9 million barrels last week,and
are in the lower half of the average range for this time of year.