MARKETWIRE ALERTS

MARKETWIRE ALERTS 

MarketWire Afternoon News April 22nd:

Updated at 5:00 PM ET 

HEADLINES:

— AAR: Petroleum Carloads Up 15.5% for Week Ended April 18

— EIA: U.S. Crude Imports from Canada, Saudi Arabia Surge

— EIA: PADD 3 Distillate Stocks Fall to 13-Month Low

— EIA: PADD 2 Gasoline Near Lows Not Seen Since December

— EIA: PADD 5 Gasoline Inventory Up 2nd Week    

— EIA: Crude Stocks Up 1.9M on Wk; Gasoline, Distillates DN     

— EIA: PADD 1 Gasoline Stocks Fall to New 2026 Low

— EIA: U.S. Distillate Inventories Down 3.4M Bbl for Week Ended April 17

— EIA: Propane/Propylene Stocks Climb, Up 71.5% Y-o-Y

— EIA: U.S. Ethanol Inventories Expand, Up 5.8% Y-o-Y

— U.S. Rack ULSD Up 16.8cts; Gasoline Rises 7.58cts

NEWS:

AAR: Petroleum Carloads Up 15.5% for Week Ended April 18

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports that petroleum and petroleum product carloads totaled 11,158 during the week ended April 18, up by 15.5% from the same week a year ago.

Year-to-date, petroleum and petroleum products carloads totaled 163,702, up 8.4% from the corresponding period of the prior year, an AAR report published on Wednesday (4/22) showed.

Weekly traffic for the profiled week totaled 508,303, up 2.5% from the same week a year ago.

Total carloads for the week ended April 18 reached 230,749, up by 3% from the same week of last year.

Weekly intermodal volume was 277,554 containers and trailers, up 2.2% from the corresponding week of the prior year.

Year-to-date, U.S. railroads reported carloads at 3,372,766, up 3.9% on the year.

Cumulative intermodal units were 4,132,416, down 0.1% from a year ago.

Total rail traffic for the first 15 weeks of the year was 7,505,182 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.6% on the year.

EIA: U.S. Crude Imports from Canada, Saudi Arabia Surge

U.S. crude oil imports from Canada and Saudi Arabia rebounded sharply during the week ended April 17, while shipments from Brazil and Nigeria also saw significant gains, data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed Wednesday (April 22).

Canadian crude imports rose 294,000 bbl to 3.814 million bpd during the referenced week, after a 751,000-bpd tumble in the previous week to April 10.

The latest figure was 17% higher than the 3.258 million bpd imported from Canada during the same week one year prior.

In contrast to the prior week’s decline of 340,000 bpd, arrivals from Saudi Arabia climbed 266,000 bpd to 515,000 bpd. This volume was more than 73% higher than the 298,000-bpd reported during the same period last year.

Venezuela reported an increase of 87,000 bpd to 499,000 bpd, a more than three-fold jump from the 146,000-bpd level recorded a year ago.

Brazil shipments surged by 197,000 bpd to reach 240,000 bpd during the reference week.

Iraqi arrivals declined by 61,000 bpd to 48,000 bpd. This figure was significantly lower than the 170,000-bpd reported during the same week in 2025.

Mexico added 103,000 bpd to land at 248,000 bpd in the reference week, though this remained down from the 381,000 bpd seen a year prior.

Nigeria shipments returned to a shipment of 136,000 bpd after posting zero the week before, while imports from Ecuador and Libya fell to zero.

EIA: PADD 3 Distillate Stocks Fall to 13-Month Low

U.S. Gulf Coast (PADD 3) distillate fuel oil inventories fell to a 13-month low during the week ended April 17, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed Wednesday (4/22).

Jet fuel and crude oil inventories rose for the same week while crude stocks declined.

PADD 3 balances of distillates, the feedstock for diesel, decreased by 1.3 million bbl to 39.4 million bbl in the profiled week. The current distillate stock level is the lowest since the 37.6 million bbl balance reported for the week ended March 21, 2025.

Jet fuel inventories in PADD 3 rose by 700,000 bbl to 14.6 million bbl during the reference week and were above the 12.7 million bbl reported in the same week last year. As a net exporter of distillates and jet fuel, PADD 3 does not report imports of those products.

Motor gasoline inventories in PADD 3 fell by 2.3 million bbl to 81.2 million bbl and were below the 83.5 million bbl reported in the same week last year. There were no gasoline imports into the Gulf Coast last week, just like the prior week and a year ago.

Crude oil stocks in PADD 3 rose by 1.1 million bbl week-over-week to 272.1 million bbl but were 18.7 million bbl below the same week of 2025.  Crude imports into the Gulf Coast fell by 86,000 bpd to 845,000 bpd and were below the 1.353 million bpd recorded in the comparable week last year.

Refinery utilization on the Gulf Coast increased to 95.4% from 94.1% the previous week, with crude oil inputs rising by 169,000 bpd to 9.369 million bpd, EIA data showed.

EIA: PADD 2 Gasoline Near Lows Not Seen Since December

Midwest (PADD 2) gasoline inventories declined in the week ended April 17, extending the recent downward trend and falling to a new low for 2026, while distillate stocks also moved lower, jet fuel inventories increased, and crude oil inventories rose, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data released Wednesday (4/22).

Motor gasoline inventories in PADD 2 fell by 2.2 million bbl to 52.4 million bbl on the week, EIA data showed and were below the 53.6 million bbl recorded in the corresponding week last year. The latest level is the lowest since December of last year, when inventories stood at 49.4 million bbl. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 1,000 bpd, up from 0 bpd the prior week but below the 16,000 bpd imported in the same week of the prior year.  

Distillate fuel oil inventories in the Midwest declined by 1.5 million bbl on the week to 27.0 million bbl and were 100,000 bbl below the level reported in the same week of the prior year. Distillate fuel oil imports averaged 14,000 bpd, up 5,000 bpd from the prior week and above the 5,000 bpd imported in the comparable week of last year.  

Jet fuel inventories in PADD 2 increased by 100,000 bbl to 7.4 million bbl on the week and were slightly above the level recorded in the same week of the prior year. During the profiled week, PADD 2 jet fuel imports remained at zero bpd, unchanged week-over-week and year-over-year.  

Crude oil inventories in PADD 2 increased by 1.4 million bbl to 113.8 million bbl during the reference week and were 5.5 million bbl above volumes recorded in the corresponding week of the prior year. Crude oil imports into the Midwest averaged 2.794 million bpd during the reference week, compared with 2.847 million bpd the prior week and 2.541 million bpd reported in the same week of the prior year.  

Refinery utilization in the Midwest fell to 84.2% of operable capacity from 84.8% the prior week and was below the 87.0% recorded in the same week of the prior year, according to EIA data.

EIA: PADD 5 Gasoline Inventory Up 2nd Week

U.S. West Coast gasoline and distillate stocks showed mixed movements last week while jet fuel inventories increased in the week ending April 17, Energy Information Administration data showed Wednesday (4/22).
Motor gasoline inventories in the PADD 5 region climbed for the second consecutive week, rising by 200,000 bbl to 28.5 million bbl during the week ended April 17. That is the highest level since the week ended February 27, when stocks reached 28.6 million bbl, following a rebound the prior week, the EIA’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed. Year-on-year, gasoline stocks in the region were higher by 2.4 million bbl. PADD 5 gasoline imports increased by 22,000 bpd to 254,000 bpd last week and were 53,000 bpd higher compared with the same week last year
Distillate fuel oil inventories in the region slipped by 600,000 bbl to 10.7 million bbl during the week profiled and were 800,000 bbl lower than the volume reported in the same period last year, EIA data showed. Distillate imports rose by 5,000 bpd to 11,000 bpd on the week and were 8,000 bpd higher than the same week the previous year
Jet fuel stocks in the West Coast increased by 100,000 bbl to 10.8 million bbl and were 1.0 million bbl higher compared with the same week last year. Jet fuel imports surged by 71,000 bpd to 130,000 bpd last week and were 32,000 bpd higher year-on-year.
Crude oil inventories in PADD 5 tumbled by 1.2 million bbl to 45.7 million bbl during the week ending April 17 and were 2.7 million bbl lower than the same period last year. Crude imports jumped by 236,000 bpd to 1.070 million bpd on the week and were 302,000 bpd higher compared with the same week last year.
Refinery utilization in the West Coast slipped to 77% from 82.5% the prior week, according to EIA data.

EIA: Crude Stocks Up 1.9M on Wk; Gasoline, Distillates DN

U.S. commercial crude oil stocks rose last week as refinery activity declined further, while gasoline and distillate fuel inventories continued to draw down, Energy Information Administration (EIA) data for the week ended April 17 released on Wednesday (4/22) showed.

Crude stocks increased by 1.9 million bbl to 465.7 million bbl during the week profiled. The current inventory level remains approximately 5.1% above year-ago levels.

Crude oil imports averaged 6.078 million bpd in the profiled week, an increase of 787,000 bpd from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude imports averaged 6.037 million bpd, down 0.4% from the same period last year.

Total motor gasoline inventories fell by 4.6 million bbl last week to 228.4 million bbl. On an annual level, gasoline stocks were down 0.5%.

Distillate fuel balances fell by 3.4 million bbl to 108.1 million bbl, slightly exceeding the previous week’s decline. For the year, distillate stocks were up 1.2%.

Jet fuel stocks rose 1.2 million bbl to 43.7 million bbl for the week, snapping two consecutive weeks of drawdowns. Annualized, jet fuel inventories were 10.3% higher. Refinery utilization decreased to 89.1% last week from 89.6% of operable capacity reported the prior week. Crude oil input into refineries averaged 15.987 million bpd during the week ended April 17, down by 55,000 bpd from the previous week’s average.

Total products supplied over the last four weeks averaged 20.5 million bpd, up 3.0% from the same period a year earlier. Gasoline demand averaged 8.8 million bpd, up 1.7% from the same period last year, while distillate demand averaged 3.99 million bpd, higher by 3.4% year-over-year.

EIA: PADD 1 Gasoline Stocks Fall to New 2026 Low

East Coast (PADD 1) gasoline inventories declined in the week ended April 17, falling to the lowest level of 2026, while jet fuel stocks increased and distillate inventories edged higher, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday (4/22).

Motor gasoline stocks in PADD 1 fell by 400,000 bbl to 57.3 million bbl in the week ended April 17, reaching a new low for 2026 and below the 58 million bbl reported in the same week last year, EIA data showed. The latest level is the lowest since the week ended January 2, 2026, when inventories stood at 56.2 million bbl. Gasoline imports into the East Coast averaged 332,000 bpd, up by 257,000 bpd week-over-week but below the 529,000 bpd imported in the comparable week of 2025.  

Jet fuel inventories in PADD 1 increased by 300,000 bbl to 10.1 million bbl in the reference week and were above the 9.2 million bbl recorded in the same period last year. Imports of the product into the region averaged 1,000 bpd, down from 27,000 bpd the prior week and well below the 210,000 bpd imported a year earlier.  

Distillate fuel oil inventories in PADD 1 rose by 100,000 bbl to 27.0 million bbl in the respective week and were above the 23.7 million bbl recorded in the same period last year. Distillate fuel oil imports averaged 159,000 bpd, up by 61,000 bpd from the prior week and above the 78,000 bpd imported in the same week last year.  

Crude oil inventories on the East Coast surged by 200,000 bbl to 7.9 million bbl week-over-week and were below the 8.5 million bbl reported in the same week of 2025. Crude oil imports rose by 252,000 bpd to 643,000 bpd and were slightly below the 650,000 bpd recorded in the comparable week last year.  

Refinery utilization on the East Coast declined to 84.7% from 90.3% the previous week, with crude oil inputs falling by 72,000 bpd to 763,000 bpd, EIA data showed.

EIA: Propane/Propylene Stocks Climb, Up 71.5% Y-o-Y

The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday (4/22) total domestic propane/propylene stocks of 79.99 million bbl in the week ending April 17, up 2.093 million bbl week-on-week and 33.36 million bbl, or 71.5% higher than in the same week last year.
Data show propane/propylene exports last week averaged 2.09 million bpd, up 209,000 bpd week-on-week and 71,000 bpd, or 3.3%, lower than in the same week last year.
Implied demand for propane/propylene in the United States averaged 694,000 bpd, down 472,000 bpd week-on-week and 246,000 bpd, or 54.9% higher than in the same week last year.
EIA reports domestic propane/propylene production averaged 2.976 million bpd, up 3,000 bpd week-on-week and 141,000 bpd, or 5% higher than in the same week last year.
East Coast PADD 1 inventories ended the week at 4.742 million bbl, up 712,000 bbl week-on-week and 651,000 bbl, or 15.9% higher than in the same week last year.
Midwest PADD 2 inventories ended the week at 15.025 million bbl, up 287,000 bbl week-on-week and 5.252 million bbl, or 53.7% higher than in the same week last year.
Gulf Coast PADD 3 inventories ended the week at 56.895 million bbl, up 672,000 bbl week-on-week and 26.366 million bbl, or 86.4% higher than in the same week last year.
Combined inventories in the Rockies and the West Coast, PADD 4 and 5, ended the week at 3.328 million bbl, up 422,000 bbl week-on-week and 1.092 million bbl, or 48.8% higher than in the same week last year.

EIA: U.S. Ethanol Inventories Expand, Up 5.8% Y-o-Y

The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday (4/22) that overall ethanol production in the United States averaged 1.04 million bpd in the week ending April 17, down 80,000 bpd week-on-week and 7,000 bpd, or 0.7% higher than in the same week last year. Four-week average output at 1.088 million bpd was 56,000 bpd above the same four weeks last year.
Midwest ethanol production averaged 979,000 bpd, down 88,000 bpd week-on-week and 3,000 bpd, or 0.3% higher than in the same week last year. Four-week average output at 1.034 million bpd was 57,000 bpd above the same four weeks last year.
Ethanol blending activity in the U.S. averaged 921,000 bpd, up 46,000 bpd week-on-week. Blending demand was in line with year-ago levels both last week and on the four-week average.
Blender inputs at the East Coast were up 12,000 bpd on the week while inputs in the Midwest were up 10,000 bpd, up 13,000 bpd on the Gulf Coast and up 10,000 bpd on the West Coast.
Domestic ethanol inventories ended the week at 26.948 million bbl, up 249,000 bbl week-on-week and 1.467 million bbl, or 5.8% higher than in the same week last year.
East Coast PADD 1 inventories ended the week at 8.186 million bbl, up 9,000 bbl week-on-week and 392,000 bbl, or 5% higher than in the same week last year.
Midwest PADD 2 inventories ended the week at 10.386 million bbl, down 143,000 bbl week-on-week and 245,000 bbl, or 2.3% lower than in the same week last year.
Gulf Coast PADD 3 inventories ended the week at 5.513 million bbl, up 467,000 bbl week-on-week and 1.363 million bbl, or 32.8% higher than in the same week last year.
West Coast PADD 5 inventories ended the week at 2.492 million bbl, down 82,000 bbl week-on-week and 232,000 bbl, or 8.5% lower than in the same week last year.

U.S. Rack ULSD Up 16.8cts; Gasoline Rises 7.58cts

Wholesale rack prices for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and gasoline moved higher again Wednesday (4/22) as physical markets strengthened alongside firmer futures on continued supply constraints amid a new phase of uncertainty in the Middle East conflict.

Nationwide ULSD rack prices averaged $3.8804 gallon, up 16.8cts from Tuesday’s level of $3.7124, according to DTN data. Conventional unleaded gasoline rack prices averaged $3.3302 gallon, up 7.58cts from the prior day’s $3.2544.

Futures prices moved higher as well in Wednesday’s early trading. Front-month May NYMEX ULSD futures rose 15.27cts to $3.8815 gallon, while May RBOB gasoline futures increased 3.64cts to $3.2462 gallon. WTI crude for May delivery climbed $1.56 to $91.23 bbl.

Futures rose amid on tit-fort-tat vessel seizures on the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and the U.S., after an abandonment of peace talks took the Middle East conflict into a new phase of uncertainty.  The seven-week long blockade of the Hormuz, the waterway for 20% of global petroleum liquids supply, has led to the most severe oil supply disruption in history and sent physical crude and product prices soaring.

ULSD racks moved higher across all regions Wednesday, with the largest increases in PADD 2 and PADD 1. Midwest ULSD rose 17.42cts to $3.6813 gallon, while East Coast prices increased 17.05cts to $3.8749 gallon. Gulf Coast values climbed 16.11cts to $3.8315 gallon. West Coast ULSD rose 16.00cts to $4.7259 gallon, maintaining the strongest regional premium, while Rocky Mountain prices posted the smallest increase, up 9.84cts to $4.1319 gallon.

Relative to the national ULSD rack average of $3.8804 gallon, PADD 5 held the widest premium at 84.55cts above the U.S. benchmark, followed by PADD 4 at 25.15cts above. PADD 1 traded near parity with the national average, while PADD 2 and PADD 3 remained at discounts of 19.91cts and 4.89cts, respectively.

On conventional unleaded gasoline racks, all regions moved higher Wednesday. Midwest gasoline posted the largest increase, rising 8.53cts to $2.8175 gallon. East Coast prices climbed 8.36cts to $3.0363 gallon, while Gulf Coast values increased 8.32cts to $2.9577 gallon. Rocky Mountain gasoline rose 4.02cts to $3.2063 gallon, while West Coast prices increased 6.01cts to $4.0724 gallon, maintaining the only premium position.

Compared with the national gasoline average of $3.3302 gallon, PADD 5 remained the only region trading at a premium, at 74.22cts above the benchmark. All other regions held discounts, led by PADD 2 at 51.27cts below the national average, followed by PADD 3 at 37.25cts and PADD 1 at 29.39cts. PADD 4 traded just slightly below the national benchmark.

Premium gasoline rack prices also moved higher across all regions, broadly in line with conventional gasoline. West Coast premiums remained elevated at $4.4640 gallon, while other regions posted steady increases.

The move higher across rack prices points to a market finding its footing after last week’s reset, with physical values starting to track the firmer tone in futures, while export demand remains a key driver after total U.S. crude and product shipments hit a record 12.7 million bpd last week. Market participants are now looking at today’s U.S. Energy Information Administration report to see if that strength in distillate and gasoline exports continues to support refined product prices.

Even with the recent volatility, structure has strengthened again, with RBOB backwardation near 9cts and ULSD back above a 10cts premium on the front month, signaling that prompt supply remains tight and demand for near-term barrels continues to hold firm.