WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following is the text of the summary of the
weekly petroleum data released by the U.S. Energy Information
Administration for the week ending October 15:

U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 14.0 million barrels per
day during the week ending October 15, 47 thousand barrels per day above
the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 82.5 percent of
their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased last
week, averaging 9.0 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production
remained virtually unchanged last week, averaging 4.2 million barrels
per day.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged 8.6 million barrels per day last
week, up by 472 thousand barrels per day from the previous week. Over
the last four weeks, crude oil imports have averaged 8.7 million barrels
per day, 350 thousand barrels per day below the same four-week period
last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished
gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 779
thousand barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 140 thousand
barrels per day last week.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 0.7 million barrels from the
previous week. At 361.2 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are
above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year. Total
motor gasoline inventories increased by 1.2 million barrels last week
and are above the upper limit of the average range. Both finished
gasoline inventories and blending components inventories increased last
week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 2.2 million barrels and
are above the upper boundary of the average range for this time of year.
Propane/propylene inventories decreased by 0.7 million barrels last week
and are near the lower limit of the average range. Total commercial
petroleum inventories decreased by 2.0 million barrels last week.

Total products supplied over the last four-week period has averaged
18.7 million barrels per day, down by 0.5 percent compared to the
similar period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline
demand has averaged 9.0 million barrels per day, down by 1.4 percent
from the same period last year. Distillate fuel demand has averaged 3.8
million barrels per day over the last four weeks, up by 9.3 percent from
the same period last year. Jet fuel demand is 1.8 percent lower over the
last four weeks compared to the same four-week period last year.

** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **

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