Crude Inventories Rise By 3 Million Barrels; WTI Oil Remains Under Pressure

On August 13, 2025, EIA released its Weekly Petroleum Status Report. The report indicated that crude inventories increased by +3 million barrels from the previous week, compared to analyst consensus of -0.8 million barrels. At current levels, inventories are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of the year.

Total motor gasoline inventories declined by -0.8 million barrels, compared to analyst forecast of -1 million barrels. Distillate fuel inventories increased by +0.7 million barrels from the previous week.

Crude oil imports increased by +958,000 bpd, averaging 6.9 million bpd. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged 6.2 million bpd. Rising crude oil imports were the key driver behind the increase in crude inventories.

Strategic Petroleum Reserve increased from 403.0 million barrels to 403.2 million barrels. From a big picture point of view, Strategic Petroleum Reserve has remained mostly unchanged in recent weeks.

Domestic oil production increased from 13.284 million bpd to 13.327 million bpd. A move above the 13.4 million bpd level will signal that domestic oil production is ready to increase at current oil price levels.

WTI oil remained under pressure as traders reacted to the EIA report. Currently, WTI oil is trying to settle below the $62.50 level.

Brent oil pulled back towards the $65.50 level after the release of the report.

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