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US unrefined stockpiles increase less than projection as refining ramps up - EIA

U.S. crude oil stockpiles recently increased less than anticipated as refining rates picked up greatly, but fuel inventories plunged more than forecast, information from Energy Details Administration (EIA) showed on Wednesday.

Crude inventories increased for a sixth week in a row, building by 1.4 million barrels to 448.5 million barrels in the week ended March 1, the EIA said. Analysts had forecast in a poll a 2.1 million-barrel increase.

Refinery unrefined runs increased by 594,000 barrels each day (bpd) to 15.3 million bpd. Refinery usage rates jumped by 3.4 percentage indicate 84.9% of overall capability, the highest in 6 weeks, the data revealed.

The draw down in fuel and distillates has the market's attention. This is a wake up call that we have a really tight market, Rate Futures Group analyst Phil Flynn stated.

Gas stocks fell by 4.5 million barrels in the week to 239.7 million barrels, the EIA said, compared with expectations for a 1.6 million-barrel draw.?

Extract stockpiles, that include diesel and heating oil, fell by 4.1 million barrels in the week to 117 million barrels, versus expectations for a 665,000 barrel drop, the EIA data showed.

Oil criteria increased after the information, with Brent futures trading at $83.90 a barrel, up by $1.86 or 2.3%, by 11:11 a.m. ET (1611 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures increased $2.34, or 3%, to $80.49 a barrel.

U.S. fuel futures rose 1.8% and ultra-low sulfur diesel futures increased 2.5%.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 701,000 barrels last week, the EIA said.

Net U.S. crude imports increased recently by 928,000 bpd, the EIA said.

(source: Reuters)