The US Energy Information Administration or EIA stated in a latest weekly update that crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.2 million barrels per day during the week ending March 6, 2026, which was 328 thousand barrels per day more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 90.8% of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.9 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production increased by 131 thousand barrels per day last week, averaging 4.9 million barrels per day. U.S. crude oil imports averaged 6.4 million barrels per day last week, increased by 98 thousand barrels per day from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.5 million barrels per day, 12.6% more than the same four-week period last year.
Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 542 thousand barrels per day, and distillate fuel imports averaged 179 thousand barrels per day. US commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 3.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 443.1 million barrels, US crude oil inventories are about 2% below the five year average for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 3.7 million barrels from last week and are 5% above the five year average for this time of year. Both finished gasoline and blending components inventories decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 1.3 million barrels last week and are about 2% below the five year average for this time of year.