EIA: PADD 2 Gasoline Stocks Hit New Record Low


   
Barani Krishnan
DTN Refined Fuels Market Reporter

   SECAUCUS, NJ (DTN) - Midwest motor gasoline inventories plunged to a new 
all-time record low during the week ended October 23, while distillate and jet 
fuel stocks also drew down despite a modest build in regional crude oil 
inventories, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Wednesday 
(10/28).

   Refinery crude processing runs and regional capacity utilization in PADD 2 
declined on the week, according to the EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report.

   Motor gasoline inventories in PADD 2 dropped by 1.3 million bbl during the 
week ended October 23 to 41.0 million bbl, down from 42.3 million bbl the prior 
week. EIA historical data showed this to be the lowest ever for Midwest 
gasoline stocks, overwriting the previous bottom of 41.410 million bbl set on 
October 2, 2026.

   Year-on-year, regional gasoline inventories were 2.4 million bbl lower than 
the 43.4 million bbl logged in the corresponding week of 2025. Gasoline imports 
into the region edged up by 2,000 bpd on the week to average 33,000 bpd, 
compared to 21,000 bpd during the equivalent week last year.

   Distillate inventories drew by 1.1 million bbl during the week ended October 
23 to stand at 24.2 million bbl, down from 25.3 million bbl the prior week. EIA 
historical data showed this was the lowest regional distillate volume logged in 
five months, since May 22, 2026, when stocks were at 23.626 million bbl.

   Regional distillate stockpiles stood 800,000 bbl below the 25.0 million bbl 
reported a year earlier. Distillate imports into PADD 2 increased by 9,000 bpd 
on the week to average 12,000 bpd, up 11,000 bpd from the year-ago volume of 
1,000 bpd.

   Jet fuel inventories fell by 500,000 bbl from the prior week to reach 6.8 
million bbl, though remaining 100,000 bbl above the year-ago level of 6.7 
million bbl. Weekly jet fuel imports remained at zero bpd, matching both 
week-ago and year-ago levels.

   Crude oil inventories in the Midwest rose by 300,000 bbl on the week to 
107.9 million bbl, standing 4.2 million bbl above the year-ago level of 103.7 
million bbl. Crude imports into PADD 2 fell by 376,000 bpd last week to average 
2.720 million bpd, down 35,000 bpd from the 2.755 million bpd recorded a year 
earlier.

   Refinery crude inputs dropped by 91,000 bpd to 3.769 million bpd on the 
week, compared to 3.860 million bpd the prior week, but remained above the 
3.418 million bpd processed in the same week last year.

   The regional refinery utilization rate declined 2.1 percentage points to 
88.1% from 90.2% the prior week, remaining well above the year-ago rate of 
81.0%.




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