US Crude Oil Inventories Sag In First Count of the Year

The American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated that crude oil inventories in the United States saw a dip of 2.8 million barrels in the week ending January 2. Crude oil inventories rose by 1.7 million barrels in the week prior.

Crude oil inventories in the United States dipped by 5.1 million barrels net for 2025, according to Oilprice calculations of API data.

Earlier this week, the Department of Energy (DoE) reported that crude oil inventories in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) have risen by 300,000 barrels to 413.5 million barrels in the week ending January 2 as the Trump Administration trudges ahead to replenish depleted stockpiles.

US production rose during the week of December 26 to 13.827 million bpd, up from 13.825 million bpd in the week prior, according to the latest EIA data. This is 260,000 bpd more than this same time last year.

At 4:14 pm ET, Brent crude was trading down on the day at $60.53 (-1.99%). Brent is now roughly $1.50 down from this time last week. WTI was also trading down on the day, by $1.37 (-2.35%) at $56.95, with unknowns about the impact that the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro will have on the country’s ability to tap its vast oil reserves.

While US crude oil inventories fell, product inventories saw gains.

Gasoline inventories saw another large increase this week, gaining 4.4 million barrels in the week ending January 2. In the week prior, gasoline inventories grew by 6.2 million barrels. As of last week, gasoline inventories were 2% above the five-year average for this time of year, according to the latest EIA data.

Distillate inventories also rose in the reporting period, gaining 4.9 million barrels, after gaining 1 million barrels in the week prior. Distillate inventories were still 4% below the five-year average as of the week ending December 26, the latest EIA data shows.

Cushing inventory—the inventory kept at the delivery hub for the WTI Crude futures contract—rose by 700,000 barrels, after increasing by 800,000 barrels in the prior week.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com

 

  • Related Posts

    Russia Scrambles to Restore Fuel Supplies as Refineries Resume Operations

    Amid the ongoing fuel crisis in Russia, authorities are rushing to ease concerns that the shortages are worsening. Russia has been suffering from a gasoline and diesel crunch since the…

    Equinor and Aker BP Make New North Sea Gas Discovery

    Norwegian oil and gas firms Equinor and Aker BP have made a gas and condensate discovery close to the operating Balder field in the North Sea, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate,…

    Have You Seen?

    Norway Takes Oilfield Climate Battle to Supreme Court

    • August 24, 2026
    Norway Takes Oilfield Climate Battle to Supreme Court

    Equinor and Aker BP Make New North Sea Gas Discovery

    • August 24, 2026
    Equinor and Aker BP Make New North Sea Gas Discovery

    Russia Scrambles to Restore Fuel Supplies as Refineries Resume Operations

    • August 24, 2026
    Russia Scrambles to Restore Fuel Supplies as Refineries Resume Operations

    Texas Oil Regulator Elects New Chairman

    • August 24, 2026
    Texas Oil Regulator Elects New Chairman

    Exxon Eyes Shell’s $8 Billion U.S. Chemicals Business

    • August 24, 2026
    Exxon Eyes Shell’s $8 Billion U.S. Chemicals Business

    Iran Unveils Huge New Gas Discovery Amid U.S. Economic Pressure

    • August 24, 2026
    Iran Unveils Huge New Gas Discovery Amid U.S. Economic Pressure

    Norway Vows to Keep Drilling for Oil and Gas in the Arctic

    • August 24, 2026
    Norway Vows to Keep Drilling for Oil and Gas in the Arctic

    Japan Power Prices Surge to Highest Since 2023

    • August 24, 2026
    Japan Power Prices Surge to Highest Since 2023

    Enviromena Begins Construction of Longpasture Solar Farm, Its Second-Largest UK Project, Targeting 2027 Energisation

    • August 24, 2026
    Enviromena Begins Construction of Longpasture Solar Farm, Its Second-Largest UK Project, Targeting 2027 Energisation

    Indian Green Energy Stocks Show Mixed Performance Amid Market Weakness (24 August 2026)

    • August 24, 2026
    Indian Green Energy Stocks Show Mixed Performance Amid Market Weakness (24 August 2026)