EIA: US crude stocks post largest weekly build since January 2025

US commercial crude oil inventories rose by 7.7 million barrels in the week ending 25 July, reaching 426.7 million barrels—approximately 6% below the five-year seasonal average. Including the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), total crude stocks climbed to 829.4 million barrels, an increase of 7.9 million barrels, or 1.0%, from the prior week.

Refinery throughput averaged 16.9 million barrels per day (b/d), marginally lower by 25,000 b/d, with utilisation holding steady at a robust 95.4%. Refined product output remained strong: gasoline production rose to 10.0 million b/d, and distillates to 5.2 million b/d—up 131,000 b/d on the week.

Crude imports edged higher to 6.1 million b/d, up 159,000 b/d, although the four-week moving average remains 11.3% below year-ago levels. 

Product inventory movements were mixed. Total gasoline stocks declined by 2.7 million barrels, now around 1% below the seasonal norm. Conversely, distillate stocks rose by 3.6 million barrels but remain roughly 16% below the five-year average. Propane/propylene inventories increased by 1.1 million barrels, now 9% above historical norms. Overall petroleum stocks (excluding SPR) rose by 7.1 million barrels.

The US produced an average of 13.31 million b/d of crude oil during the reporting week, slightly higher compared to the week before.

Written: Aiman Haikal