U.S. Cushing crude oil inventories have reversed direction, shifting from a build to a draw, according to the latest data updated on 19 February 2026. Stocks at the key Oklahoma storage hub fell by 1.095 million barrels, compared with the previous increase of 1.071 million barrels.
The move from a positive to a negative reading at Cushing—the delivery point for NYMEX WTI futures—signals a tightening in physical supply conditions relative to the prior period. While the data alone do not explain the cause, the drawdown may reflect stronger refinery demand, changes in pipeline flows, or export dynamics affecting crude availability at the hub.
Traders and analysts typically watch Cushing levels closely as a barometer for U.S. mid-continent supply and potential pressure on benchmark WTI pricing. The latest decline, following a prior build, will likely feed into market assessments of near-term crude balances and storage capacity usage in the U.S. midstream system.
