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 September 24:

U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 14.7 million barrels per
day during the week ending September 24, 381 thousand barrels per day
below the previous weeks average. Refineries operated at 85.8 percent
of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased last
week, averaging 9.2 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production
decreased slightly last week, averaging 4.3 million barrels per day.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged 9.0 million barrels per day last
week, down by 317 thousand barrels per day from the previous week. Over
the last four weeks, crude oil imports have averaged 9.1 million barrels
per day, 271 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 881
thousand barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 195 thousand
barrels per day last week.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 0.5 million barrels from the
previous week. At 357.9 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 decreased by 3.5 million barrels last week
and are above the upper limit of the average range. Both finished
gasoline inventories and blending components inventories decreased last
week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 1.3 million barrels and
are above the upper boundary of the average range for this time of year.
Propane/propylene inventories decreased by 0.3 million barrels last week
and are in the lower half of the average range. Total commercial
petroleum inventories decreased by 5.1 million barrels last week.

Total products supplied over the last four-week period has averaged
19.5 million barrels per day, up by 2.8 percent compared to the similar
period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline demand has
averaged 9.1 million barrels per day, up by 0.9 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 13.4 percent from the
same period last year. Jet fuel demand is 1.2 percent higher 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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