By Anthony Harrup
U.S. crude oil inventories likely fell for a second straight week with refineries continuing to run at a high capacity rate, according to a survey by The Wall Street Journal.
Commercial crude stocks are expected to have declined by 1.9 million barrels to 423.8 million barrels in week ended Dec. 12, according to the average estimate of nine analysts and traders. One sees an increase and eight predict a decline. Expectations range from a build of 2.3 million barrels to a drop of 5.3 million barrels.
Gasoline inventories are forecast to have risen by 1.2 million barrels to 222 million barrels, with estimates ranging from a 3.9 million barrel build to a 2 million barrel draw.
Stocks of distillate fuel, mostly diesel, are seen slipping by 300,000 barrels to 116.5 million barrels. Forecasts range from a rise of 2.3 million barrels to a decline of 4.5 million barrels.
Refineries likely ran at 94.5% of capacity, unchanged from the week before, with estimates ranging from a 1.2 percentage point increase to a 0.8 percentage point decrease. Two analysts didn't forecast refinery runs.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release the inventory data on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EST.
Crude Gasoline Distillates Refinery Use
Again Capital -2.1 1.9 1.3 1.2
Confluence Investment Management -2.0 2.0 0.5 -0.8
Rystad Energy -5.3 0.8 unch -0.2
Excel Futures -2.2 3.9 2.1 0.5
Spartan Capital Securities -1.0 -1.9 -2.7 n/f
Mizuho -1.0 2.0 1.5 -0.5
Price Futures Group -2.0 -2.0 -3.0 unch
Ritterbusch and Associates 2.3 2.1 2.3 -0.2
Tradition Energy -4.2 2.1 -4.5 n/f
AVERAGE -1.9 1.2 -0.3 unch
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
12-16-25 1155ET
