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EIA: US crude stocks rise as refineries start maintenance

The Energy Information Administration reported on Thursday that U.S. crude inventories increased last week, as refineries prepared for maintenance, and gasoline stocks decreased ahead of the long Labor Day Weekend.

The EIA reported that crude inventories increased by 2.4m barrels, to 420.7m barrels for the week ending August 29. This was compared to analysts' expectations based on a poll of a 2m barrel draw. John Kilduff of Again Capital said, "This report is a bit bearish with the crude build." He added that refineries would be reducing production for maintenance in autumn, which could put pressure on crude stock levels.

After the release of these data, U.S. crude oil prices remained unchanged at $63.51 as of 12:12 pm. ET (1612 GMT). Brent crude oil prices fell 0.8% to $67.05.

The EIA reported that crude stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma's delivery hub, rose by 1.6 millions barrels in the past week.

Data showed that net U.S. crude oil imports increased last week by 434,000 barrels a day.

Refinery crude production fell by 11,000 barrels per day and refinery utilization rates dropped by 0.3 percentage points in the past week, to 94.3%.

The EIA reported that gasoline stocks dropped by 3.8 millions barrels last week, to 218.5million barrels. This was compared to expectations of a 1.1million-barrel withdrawal.

The data revealed that distillate stocks, which includes diesel and heating oil rose by 1.7m barrels last week, as opposed to expectations of a 600k barrel drop.

(source: Reuters)