Analysts See Decline in U.S. Crude Oil Stockpiles

By Anthony Harrup

U.S. crude oil inventories are expected to have fallen last week following two straight weekly builds, according to a survey by The Wall Street Journal.

Commercial crude stocks are seen down by 1.1 million barrels at 419.2 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 10, according to the average estimate of eight analysts and traders. Six expect a drop and two predict an increase, with estimates ranging from a 3.4 million barrel rise to a 3.4 million barrel decline.

Gasoline inventories are expected to have fallen by 600,000 barrels to 218.5 million barrels, with forecasts ranging from a 2.1 million barrel build to a 2.5 million barrel draw.

Stocks of distillate fuels, mostly diesel, are forecast to be down by 1.2 million barrels at 120.4 million barrels. Estimates range from an increase of 2.7 million barrels to a drop of 4.5 million barrels.

Refinery capacity use likely slipped by one fifth of a percentage point to 92.2%, with estimates ranging from a 2.2 percentage point decline to a 1 percentage point increase. Two analysts didn’t forecast refinery runs.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release the inventory data on Thursday at 12 p.m. EDT.

Crude Gasoline Distillates Refinery Use
Again Capital -1.2 2.1 2.7 0.9
Confluence Investment Management -1.5 -1.0 -1.0 0.9
Rystad Energy -3.4 -2.0 -3.3 -2.2
Excel Futures 3.4 -1.7 -4.5 -1.2
Spartan Capital Securities -2.7 -0.9 -0.4 n/f
Price Futures Group 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.0
Ritterbusch and Associates -2.2 -0.9 -2.7 -0.5
Tradition Energy -3.0 -2.5 -2.2 n/f

AVERAGE -1.1 -0.6 -1.2 -0.2

Note: Numbers in millions of barrels, with the exception of refinery use, which is in percentage points.

n/f = no forecast

unch = unchanged

Write to Anthony Harrup at anthony.harrup@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-15-25 1213ET