Petroleum demand last month highest for April since 2008 (includes monthly statistical report)

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2017 – Total petroleum deliveries in April moved up by 1.7 percent from April 2016 to average 19.6 million barrels per day. These were the highest April deliveries in nine years, since 2008. Compared with March, total domestic petroleum deliveries, a measure of U.S. petroleum demand, decreased 0.3 percent. For year to date, total domestic petroleum deliveries moved up slightly by 0.1 percent compared to the same period last year to average 19.4 million barrels per day.

The overall economy in the U.S. showed gains for the fourth time in the year, adding 211,000 jobs in April, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report. The U.S. unemployment rate was little changed at 4.4 percent, and the number of unemployed persons was little changed at 7.1 million.

“The manufacturing sector expanded in April while the overall economy grew for the 95th consecutive month,” said Chief Economist, Erica Bowman. “These positive economic signs along with relatively low fuel prices have benefited American consumers and workers.”

Gasoline deliveries in April were up from the prior month and the prior year, but down from the prior year to date. Total motor gasoline deliveries, a measure of consumer gasoline demand, moved up 0.6 percent from April 2016, to average nearly 9.3 million barrels per day–the highest April deliveries on record. Compared with March 2017, total motor gasoline deliveries increased 0.4 percent.

At 9.2 million barrels per day, crude oil production was the second highest April output in 44 years, since 1973. Crude oil production increased 1.0 percent from March, and up by 3.4 percent from April 2016. This was the highest for any month in 17 months, since November 2015. For year to date, crude production was also up 2.2 percent compared with year to date 2016. Natural gas liquids (NGL) production, a co-product of natural gas production, was down from the prior year, but up from the prior month and the prior year to date. NGL production in April averaged nearly 3.5 million barrels per day, down 1.5 percent from last year, but up 0.4 percent from last month and up 1.4 percent from the prior year to date. This was the second highest April output level on record.

U.S. total petroleum imports in April averaged nearly 10.2 million barrels per day, up 1.6 percent from the prior month and were up 3.3 percent from the prior year. For year to date, total petroleum imports were also up by 3.4 percent compared with year to date 2016. Crude oil imports increased 3.4 percent from April 2016 to just below 7.9 million barrels per day in April 2017. Compared with March, crude oil imports were 0.4 percent higher. For year to date, crude imports were also up 2.7 percent compared with year to date 2016.

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 40 million Americans.

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Monthly Statistical Report Summary (April 2017)

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Petroleum Facts at a Glance (April 2017)

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Monthly Import Statistics - February 2017 (latest available)

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