January 09, 2025 [Reuters]- U.S. crude stocks fell last week, driving the Cushing, Oklahoma hub to a 10-year low, while fuel inventories surged, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday.

Crude inventories fell by 959,000 barrels to 414.6 million barrels in the week ended Jan. 3, the EIA said, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 184,000-barrel draw.

Crude futures extended losses following the report. Brent crude was last down 86 cents to $76.19 a barrel at 11:47 a.m. ET (1647 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 85 cents to $73.40.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub fell by 2.5 million barrels to 20 million barrels, their lowest since October 2014. They also declined by the most in a week since August 2023.

Stocks near or below 20 million barrels are considered near operational lows, according to traders.

“These guys like to drain the tanks at the end of the year, for tax reasons, but this is extreme, so it’s definitely an issue,” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York, adding that it is difficult to move barrels out of the facility when the tanks get too low.

Still, Cushing stocks are expected to start replenishing in the coming weeks, analysts said.

“A ramp-up in refinery maintenance in the coming weeks should usher in a return to crude inventory builds,” said Matt Smith, analyst at Kpler.

FUEL STOCKS SURGE

Refinery crude runs rose by 45,000 barrels per day (bpd) last week, while utilization rates climbed by 0.6 percentage points in the week to 93.3%, the EIA said.

Refiners along the U.S. Gulf Coast raised their crude oil net inputs to the highest levels since December 2018, the data showed.

The four-week average for refinery utilization is at 92.6%, slightly below year-ago levels of 92.9%.

U.S. gasoline stocks rose by 6.3 million barrels in the week to 237.7 million barrels, the EIA said, compared with analysts’ expectations for a 1.5 million-barrel build.

U.S. gasoline futures fell after the data showed a large build in products.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 6.1 million barrels in the week to 128.9 million barrels, versus expectations for a 600,000-barrel rise, the EIA data showed.

U.S. heating oil futures extended losses after the larger-than-expected build in distillate stocks.

“I would be concerned if we saw more substantial products builds over the next few weeks. And in the meantime, the cold snap could constrain crude oil supply and increase heating oil demand,” said Josh Young, chief investment officer at Bison Interests.

Net U.S. crude imports rose last week by 278,000 bpd to 3.35 million bpd, the EIA said. Shipments from Canada surged last week to a record high amid concerns that President-elect Donald Trump will implement tariffs on imports when he takes office later this month.