U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell unexpectedly last week, while gasoline and distillate inventories posted surprise builds, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday.

Crude inventories fell by 2.3 million barrels to 430.2 million barrels in the week ended February 21, the EIA said, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 2.6 million-barrel rise.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 1.3 million barrels in the week.

Global benchmark Brent crude futures were down 6 cents to $72.96 a barrel by 10:37 a.m. EST (1538 GMT) following the report. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were up 7 cents to $69 a barrel.

Refinery crude runs rose by 317,000 barrels per day, while utilization rates (USOIRU=ECI) increased by 1.6 percentage points to 86.5% of total capacity, the EIA said.

Gasoline stocks rose by 400,000 barrels in the week to 248.3 million barrels, the EIA said, compared with expectations for an 800,000-barrel draw.​

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 3.9 million barrels in the week to 120.5 million barrels, versus expectations for a 1.5 million-barrel drop, the EIA data showed.

Net U.S. crude imports rose last week by 292,000 barrels per day, the EIA said.
Source: Reuters