Commodities Buzz: US Crude oil imports tank around 10% on year in last four weeks, says EIA

Energy Information Administration or EIA has stated that the US crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.9 million barrels per day during the week ending January 2, 2026, which was 62 thousand barrels per day more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 94.7% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.0 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production increased by 81 thousand barrels per day last week, averaging 5.3 million barrels per day.

The US crude oil imports averaged 6.3 million barrels per day last week, increased by 1.4 million barrels per day from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.0 million barrels per day, 9.7% less than the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 549 thousand barrels per day, and distillate fuel imports averaged 207 thousand barrels per day.

EIA noted that the US commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 3.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 419.1 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 7.7 million barrels from last week and are about 3% above the five-year average for this time of year.

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