US crude oil inventories rose by 6.16 million barrels to 449.3 million in the week ending March 13, 2026, far exceeding market expectations for a 0.4 million-barrel build and marking a fourth straight weekly increase. Stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub were up by 944,000 barrels.
Refinery activity strengthened, with crude runs increasing by 63,000 barrels per day and utilization rates advancing 0.6 percentage points to 91.4%. Distillate inventories—which include diesel and heating oil—declined by 2.5 million barrels to 116.9 million, a sharper draw than the forecast 1.5 million-barrel drop. US gasoline inventories also fell more than expected, decreasing by 5.4 million barrels to 244.1 million, compared with projections for a 1.6 million-barrel decline.
