US crude stocks expected lower amid stronger refinery runs, weaker imports

摘要

US crude oil inventory draws likely extended in the week ended July 30 amid an uptick in refinery demand and slower imports, an S&P Global Platts analysis showed Aug. 2. Total commercial crude stocks likely fell 4 million barrels to around 431.6 million barrels, analysts surveyed by Platts said. The draw would push stocks to a fresh 18-month low and leave them nearly 8% behind the five-year average of US Energy Information Administration data. The expected draw comes as refinery utilization is expected to average 91.4% of total capacity, an increase of 0.3 percentage point from the week prior. While the expected increase would snap a fourweek slide, utilization rates would continue to lose ground to the fiveyear average and fall nearly 1% behind, opening the widest deficit to the average since mid-May.