According to a survey by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. crude-oil stockpiles are projected to have declined slightly from the previous week, based on estimates from 10 analysts and traders. For the week ended July 7, it is expected that U.S. commercial crude-oil stockpiles will have decreased by 100,000 barrels. The forecasts were evenly split, with five analysts predicting a decline and five forecasting an increase. The range of expectations varies from a decrease of 3.1 million barrels to an increase of 3 million barrels.
This anticipated decrease in stockpiles comes as the Department of Energy (DOE) is finalizing the process of selling crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the commercial sector. Last week’s sale amounted to 400,000 barrels, according to preliminary data. As a result, the emergency crude supplies are nearing a record low of 346.8 million barrels, the lowest level in nearly 40 years.
The DOE’s Energy Information Administration is set to release the closely watched inventory data at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
Gasoline Inventories
Gasoline inventories are expected to see a decrease of 1.1 million barrels from the previous week, according to analysts’ estimates. The range of forecasts varies from a decrease of 3 million barrels to an increase of 1.5 million barrels.
Stocks of Distillates
Stocks of distillates, primarily diesel fuel, are projected to slip by 100,000 barrels compared to the previous week. Forecasts range from a decrease of 2 million barrels to an increase of 2.5 million barrels.
Refinery Use
Refinery use is likely to have risen by 0.2 percentage points from the previous week, reaching 91.3%. Forecasts range from a decrease of 0.6 percentage points to an increase of 1 percentage point. Two analysts did not provide a forecast.
Crude | Gasoline | Distillates | Refinery Use —– | ——– | ———– | ———— 2.1 | -1.7 | -1.1 | -0.6 1.9 | -0.2 | 0.3 | 1 -2.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1 1.2 | -0.8 | 0.5 | -0.3 -3.1 | -2.7 | -1.8 | 0.6 1.5 | -1.3 | 0.8 | n/f -2 | -1 | -0.5 | -0.6 3 | -3 | -2 | unch -1.3 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 -2.2 | -2 | -1 | n/f -0.1 | -1.1 | -0.1 | 0.2
n/f = no forecast
unch = unchanged
Note: Numbers are in millions of barrels, except for refinery use, which is in percentage points.