US crude stockpiles rise more than expected in week: EIA

[NEW YORK] US crude stocks rose more than expected last week, while gasoline stocks posted a surprise increase and distillate inventories fell, data from the Energy Information Administration showed on Wednesday.

Crude inventories rose by 2.8 million barrels in the last week, compared with analysts' expectations for an increase of 1.7 million barrels.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 243,000 barrels, EIA said.

Refinery crude runs rose by 139,000 barrels per day, EIA data showed. Refinery utilization rates rose by 1.6 percentage points.

Gasoline stocks rose by 536,000 barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 144,000 barrels drop.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, fell by 1.3 million barrels, versus expectations for a 83,000-barrel drop, the EIA data showed.

U.S. crude imports rose last week by 110,000 barrels per day.

REUTERS