U.S. crude and gasoline stockpiles likely rose last week, while distillates inventories were seen dropping, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

Five analysts polled by Reuters estimated on average that crude inventories rose by about 1.5 million barrels in the week to Nov. 17.

The poll was conducted ahead of reports from the American Petroleum Institute industry group, due at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT) on Tuesday, and the Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, due at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) on Wednesday.

Crude inventories rose by 3.6 million barrels in week to Nov. 10 to 421.9 million barrels, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.8 million-barrel rise.

Analysts estimated stockpiles of gasoline were up by about 400,000 barrels last week, while distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, were seen decreasing by about 600,000 barrels.

The rate of refinery utilization was expected to increase 0.8 percentage point from 86.1% of total capacity in the previous week, the poll found.

All figures for stocks are in millions of barrels. Refinery runs change is measured in percentage points.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Daksh Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio)