By Dan Molinski

 

U.S. crude-oil stockpiles are expected to increase slightly from the previous week in data due Wednesday from the U.S. Energy Department, according to a survey of analysts and traders by The Wall Street Journal.

Estimates from 11 analysts and traders showed U.S. oil inventories are projected to have climbed by 500,000 barrels for the week ended Oct. 22, with seven analysts forecasting an increase and four analysts predicting a decline. Forecasts ranged from a decrease of 4 million barrels to an increase of 2.8 million barrels.

The closely watched survey from the DOE's Energy Information Administration is scheduled for release at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday.

Gasoline stockpiles are expected to fall by 1.8 million barrels from the previous week, according to analysts. Estimates range from a decrease of 3 million barrels to an increase of 1.2 million barrels.

Stocks of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel, are expected to fall 2.1 million barrels from the previous week. Forecasts range from decreases of 300,000 barrels to 3 million barrels.

Refinery use likely rose by 0.2 percentage point from the previous week, to 84.9% of capacity. Forecasts range from a decline of 1 percentage point to an increase of 1.7 percentage points. Two analysts didn't make a forecast.

 
                                                                 Refinery 
                                   Crude  Gasoline  Distillates       Use 
Again Capital                        2.4      -1.3         -2.6       0.8 
Citi Futures                         2.5      -2.5         -2.5        -1 
Commodity Research Group            -1.6      -0.5         -1.4      -0.6 
Confluence Investment Management       2      -2.5           -3       0.5 
DTN                                  0.5       1.2         -2.4      -0.5 
Excel Futures                        2.8      -2.5         -1.9       1.7 
Spartan Capital Securities          -2.9      -1.6         -0.3       n/f 
Mizuho                                 2        -2           -2      -0.3 
Price Futures Group                   -4        -2           -2         1 
Ritterbusch and Associates           2.5      -2.8         -2.5      -0.2 
Tradition Energy                      -1        -3         -2.5       n/f 
AVERAGE                              0.5      -1.8         -2.1       0.2 
 
n/f = no forecast 

Note: Numbers in millions of barrels, with the exception of refinery use, which is in percentage points.

 

Write to Dan Molinski at dan.molinski@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 26, 2021 13:01 ET (17:01 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.