Commodities Buzz: US Crude oil imports spike 18% on year in last four weeks, says EIA

US crude oil imports are increasing amid a highly volatile global scenario. US Energy Information Administration or EIA stated in a latest weekly update that US crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.2 million barrels per day during the week ending March 13, 2026, which was 63 thousand barrels per day more than the previous week?s average. Refineries operated at 91.4% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production decreased by 75 thousand barrels per day last week, averaging 4.9 million barrels per day.

US crude oil imports averaged 7.2 million barrels per day last week, increasing by 772 thousand barrels per day from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.7 million barrels per day, 17.8% more than the same four-week period last year. This average figures is the highest in nearly 14 months. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 447 thousand barrels per day, and distillate fuel imports averaged 221 thousand barrels per day.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 6.2 million barrels from the previous week. At 449.3 million barrels, US crude oil inventories are about 1% below the five-year average for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 5.4 million barrels from last week and are 3% above the five-year average for this time of year. Both finished gasoline and blending components inventories decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 2.5 million barrels last week and are about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year.

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