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United States crude stocks increase, gasoline and distillate stocks fall - EIA

U.S. unrefined stocks increased suddenly recently, while fuel and distillate stocks fell more than anticipated, as refining activity slowed in the world's leading oil producing country, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Crude stocks swelled for a second straight week, increasing by 3.2 million barrels to 451.4 million barrels in the week to March 29, the EIA stated, compared to experts' expectations in a poll for a 1.5 million-barrel draw.

U.S. fuel stocks, meanwhile, fell by 4.3 million barrels in the week to 227.8 million barrels, the EIA said, compared with experts' expectations in a poll for a. 800,000-barrel draw.

With refinery usage increases continuing to battle,. unrefined stocks have constructed over the last couple of weeks awaiting. refineries to go back to service, said Andrew Lipow, president. of Lipow Oil Associations.

U.S. refiners have actually reported a number of significant blackouts this year,. with some brought on by unexpected electrical concerns, fires and. winter season weather condition, and others that were planned for upkeep.

Refinery crude runs fell by 35,000 barrels. per day recently, while refiners' utilization rates. shed 0.1% in the week to 88.6%.

Those rates are anticipated to jump as refiners total. maintenance and prepare to satisfy the needs of more chauffeurs. hitting the roads beginning in late May.

We will be taking a look at that up towards probably 94-95% by. the time the summer season driving season shows up, said Tim Evans, an. independent energy analyst, referring to refinery utilization. rates.

Extract stockpiles, that include diesel and. heating oil also fell as refining dropped and warmer spring. weather showed up in parts of the country, with a drop of about. 1.3 million barrels in the week to 116.1 million barrels, versus. expectations for an approximately 600,000-barrel drop, the EIA information. showed.

Oil futures pared gains instantly after the report, with. Brent futures trading 85 cents higher at $89.77 a barrel by. 10:38 a.m. ET (1437 GMT). WTI futures were up 77 cents at $85.92. a barrel. Both Brent and WTI futures had actually gained over $1 a barrel. ahead of the EIA data.

U.S. crude imports, which edged up recently. by 75,000 barrels daily, according to the EIA, also. contributed to the petroleum develop.

(source: Reuters)