Oil Higher Despite Inventories Increase

Crude prices have been higher again this week with the market bolstered by the broad pickup in risk appetite.

Risk assets, including oil and other commodities, have been higher in response to further vaccine news.

Inventories Rise

Indeed, crude prices have been higher this week despite the latest report from the Energy Information Administration.

The EIA reported that in the week ending November 13^th, US crude inventories rose by 0.8 million barrels. However, this was far less than the 1.7 million-barrel increase the market was looking for.

The result only takes inventory levels back up to 489.5 million barrels. At this level, inventories are just 6% above their five-year seasonal average.

Gasoline Stocks Rise, Distillate Stocks Fall

Gasoline inventories were also higher over the week, rising by 2.6 million barrels. This takes the total stockpile amount to 4% above their five-year seasonal average.

Meanwhile, distillate stockpiles were fell over the week by 5.2 million barrels. They are now just 11% above their five-year seasonal average.

Imports Lower

Elsewhere, the report noted that US crude oil imports averaged 5.3 million barrels per day over the last week. This marked a reduction of 245k barrels on the prior week.

Looking back over the last four weeks, crude oil imports have averaged 5.4 million barrels per day, around 12% less on the same four-week period last year.

Gasoline Production Drops

Refinery runs were rose by 395k barrels per day on the prior week to average 13.8 million barrels per day.

Refineries were back up to 77.4% of their total operating capacity whole gasoline production was lower, averaging 9.1 million barrels per day.

Demand Recovering

In terms of measuring demand, the total products supplied number averaged 19.4 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, down around 9.1% on the same four-week period a year prior.

Gasoline products supplied averaged 8.5 million barrels, down 9.5% on the same period a year prior.

Distillate products supplied were seen averaging 4.1 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, down 6.5% on the same period a year prior.

Crude Holding Above Key Resistance Level

Following the rally off the 33.17 level support at the start of the month, oil prices have now broken back above the 40.97 level.

While above here, the focus is on further upside with the 43.88 level the next upside zone to note. To the downside, any correction below the 40.97 level will turn the focus back to the 36.23 level support and the retest of the broken channel.