MARKETWIRE ALERTS

MARKETWIRE ALERTS 

MarketWire Afternoon News for January 14th:

Updated at 5:00 PM ET 

HEADLINES:

—  EIA: PADD 3 Gasoline Stock Up 2nd Straight Wk to 5-Yr High

—  AAR: Petroleum Carloads Up 9.6% for Week to Jan. 10

—  EIA: PADD 5 Gasoline Stocks Reach 5-Mo High on Week

—  EIA: PADD 2 Gasoline Stocks Extend to Near 10-Month High

—  EIA: PADD 1 Distillates Ease but Hold Near 1-Year High

—  EIA: Crude Stocks Up After 2-Wk Drop; Gasoline Builds Too

—  EIA: U.S. Ethanol Output Jumps, Stocks Down 2.1% on Year

—  EIA: Propane/Propylene Stocks Down on Wk, Up 23% on Yr

—  OPEC+ Stays Bullish as Output Falls to 4-Month Low

NEWS:

EIA: PADD 3 Gasoline Stock Up 2nd Straight Wk to 5-Yr High

U.S. Gulf Coast (PADD 3) gasoline inventories rose a second consecutive week to reach 5-year highs while distillate and jet fuel stocks reported draws during the week ended January 9, according to Energy Information Administration data released Wednesday (1/7).

Motor gasoline inventories in the Gulf Coast region rose by 1.5 million bbl to 94.8 million bbl week-over-week. This is the highest build since January 17, 2020, when PADD 3 gasoline stockpiles were at 95.307 million bbl, the same data showed. The latest gasoline balance was also above the 87.3 million bbl seen for the same week of last year.

The region reported gasoline imports of 2,000 bpd last week, above zero imports seen last week and flat year-over-year.

Jet fuel inventories on the Gulf Coast dipped by 1.3 million bbl to 14.7 million bbl week-over-week and were 1.2 million bbl above the same week of the prior year.

Distillate fuel oil stocks in PADD 3 fell by 200,000 bbl to 49.9 million bbl during the week ended January 9. This was a yearly increase of 4.9 million bbl, the EIA reported.

As a net exporter of distillates and jet fuel, USGC PADD 3 does not report imports of those products.

Refining utilization in PADD 3 was at 98.6%, unchanged from the prior week.

Despite abundant gasoline supplies reported in PADD 3 in recent weeks, the average retail prices for gasoline in the Gulf coast rose by 0.3cts to $2.375 gallon last week, remaining the most competitive value nationwide as the U.S. average was $2.779 gallon in the same period, according to EIA data released Tuesday (1/13).

Diesel retail prices for PADD 3 fell by 1.2cts to average $3.160 gallon last week and were 31.6cts below the nationwide average of $3.459 gallon, reflecting the large year-on-year build in distillates stocks.

AAR: Petroleum Carloads Up 9.6% for Week to Jan. 10

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) data show petroleum and petroleum product carloads totaled 11,744 during the week ending January 10, up by 9.6% from the same week a year earlier.

Year-to-date volume, as well as percentage changes, for petroleum and petroleum product carloads were the same as the weekly numbers, given that the week to January 10 marked the AAR’s opening week for 2026.

Total U.S. weekly rail traffic at 510,457 carloads and intermodal units in the week profiled was up by 9.7% when compared with the same week last year. Year-to-date volume, as well as percentage changes, for weekly rail traffic were the same.

Total carloads for the week ended January 10 reached 232,803, up by 16.7% compared to the same week last year, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 277,654 containers and trailers, a 4.4% increase from the previous year. Year-to-date volume, as well as percentage changes, for both categories were the same.

EIA: PADD 5 Gasoline Stocks Reach 5-Mo High on Week

West Coast (PADD 5) gasoline inventories posted a third consecutive weekly increase and reached a five-month high last week, while distillate inventories declined and jet fuel stocks were flat in the week ended January 9, according to data released Tuesday (1/14) by the Energy Information Administration.

Motor gasoline inventories in the West Coast region totaled 31.6 million bbl last week, up 300,000 bbl from the prior week and the highest volume reported since August 8 2025, when stocks were also reported at 31.6 million bbl, EIA data showed. Inventories were 1 million higher than the same week last year. Gasoline imports into PADD 5 averaged 46,000 bpd in the reference week, which were above 16,000 bpd and 7,000 bpd reported last week and year-over-year, respectively.

Distillate fuel oil stocks in PADD 5 slipped by 400,000 bbl to 12 million bbl week-over-week. Inventories of the same product were 700,000 bbl below levels reported in the same week last year, the EIA reported. Distillate imports averaged 12,000 bpd last week, compared to zero imports reported in the prior week, and were higher than the 9,000-bpd recorded on a yearly basis.

Jet fuel inventories on the West Coast were unchanged on the week at 11.2 million bbl, however, they were 900,000 bbl lower than the same week last year. Jet fuel imports into the region averaged 179,000 bpd, compared to 34,000 bpd last week, but they were higher at 188,000 bpd in the same week of 2025.

Crude oil inventories in PADD 5 declined by 400,000 bbl to 46.5 million bbl in the week ended January 9. Crude stocks were 1.9 million bbl lower than the same week last year. Crude oil imports averaged 1.30 million bpd, up from 1.05 million bpd the previous week and slightly higher than 1.29 million bpd reported a year earlier.

West Coast (PADD 5) gasoline prices continued to soften alongside the inventory movements, with retail regular gasoline prices declining by 5.9cts to average $3.649 gallon in the week ended January 12, EIA data showed. Prices in the region were 16.1cts lower than the same week last year, while gasoline prices on the West Coast excluding California fell by 6.3cts to $3.28 gallon and were 14.8cts lower year over year.

EIA: PADD 2 Gasoline Stocks Extend to Near 10-Month High

Midwest gasoline and distillate inventories increased last week, while jet fuel stocks edged lower, Energy Information Administration said in data released Wednesday (1/14).

Total motor gasoline inventories in the PADD 2 region increased by 3.4 million bbl to 56.5 million during the week ended Jan. 9. EIA data showed it was the loftiest gasoline stockpiles since the 57.5 million bbl reported for the week ended March 28, marking a nearly 10-month high.

The latest weekly balance for gasoline was also above the 53.8 million bbl reported during the same week of last year, reflecting seasonal demand softness and improved supply coverage across the region. Retail prices tracked the loose inventory structure, with Midwest gasoline averaging 29.5cts below last year’s level at $2.604 gallon during the week ended Jan. 12 – despite a week-on-week rise of 1.9cts.

Regional distillate fuel oil inventories in PADD 2 rose by 1.3 million bbl to 30.7 million bbl during the reported week. Despite the build, stocks remained below the 34.4 million bbl reported in the same week last year, as winter demand continued to weigh on year-over-year balances. Retail diesel prices moved lower alongside the inventory increase, with Midwest diesel averaging $3.365 gallon in the week ending Jan. 12, down by 2.2cts on the week and 16.7cts lower than the same week last year.

Jet fuel inventories in the Midwest slipped to 7.5 million bbl, down slightly from the 7.6 million bbl the prior week but above the 7.3 million bbl held in the same week last year – maintaining adequate supply following earlier seasonal draws.

EIA: PADD 1 Distillates Ease but Hold Near 1-Year High

East Coast (PADD 1) inventories for gasoline and jet fuel increased last week, while distillate inventories declined modestly and crude oil stocks edged higher in the week ended January 9, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data released Wednesday (1/14).

Regional distillate fuel oil inventories slipped by 700,000 bbl on the week to 32.2 million bbl, easing from the prior report, but still holding near the highest level since the week ended Jan. 24, 2025.

On an annual comparison though, distillate stocks were below the 35 million bbl reported in the same week of last year. Recent builds in distillates have pressured retail diesel prices lower. East Coast diesel averaged $3.613 gallon in the week ended Jan. 12, down by 1.7cts on the week. The lower year-on-year distillate stockpile kept East Coast diesel 10.5cts above the same period of last year as colder temperatures supported heating oil demand.

Total motor gasoline inventories in PADD 1 rose by 3 million bbl to 59.2 million bbl during the reference week. Despite the build, stocks remained below the 63.3 million bbl held in the same week last year, maintaining a comparatively tighter year-over-year balance. Retail gasoline prices continued to soften, with East Coast gasoline averaging $2.741 gallon in the week ended Jan. 12, down by 3.7cts on the week and 25.7cts below the same period last year.

Jet fuel inventories in PADD 1 increased to 8.9 million bbl, up from 8.5 million bbl the prior week but below the 10.1 million bbl reported in the same week last year, providing limited near-term supply relief following earlier seasonal draws.

Crude oil inventories in PADD 1 increased to 7.1 million bbl, compared with 6.9 million bbl the previous week, but remained below the 7.2 million bbl reported in the same week last year. Crude oil imports into the East Coast averaged 659,000 bpd during the reference week, higher than the 605,000 bpd reported the prior week and from the 4763,000 cited a year earlier.

EIA: Crude Stocks Up After 2-Wk Drop; Gasoline Builds Too

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories rose last week for the first time in three weeks and gasoline inventories continued to expand, while distillate fuel oil stocks slipped, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Wednesday (1/14).

Commercial crude stocks increased by 3.3 million bbl to 422.4 million during the week ended January 9, snapping back-to-back declines of 3.8 million and 1.9 million over the prior two weeks, the EIA said in its Weekly Petroleum Status Report.

With the weekly build, U.S. crude inventories stood 9.8 million bbl, or 2.4%, higher than levels a year ago, the report showed.

Crude stockpiles at the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery point for NYMEX West Texas Intermediate futures, climbed by 800,000 bbl to 23.6 million after the prior week’s addition of 700,000 bbl.

Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 9 million bbl to 251 million during the reference week, adding to the prior week’s surplus of 7.7 million.

Blending components rose by 9 million bbl to 226.3 million, accounting for most of the increase, while conventional gasoline stocks slipped by 100,000 bbl to 15.7 million.

Distillate fuel oil inventories slid by 100,000 bbl to 129.2 million, after the previous week’s outsized gain of 5.6 million bbl.

Refinery utilization rose to 95.3% of operable capacity, from a prior 94.7%. Crude oil inputs into refineries averaged 16.96 million bpd, up fractionally from the previous week’s 16.9 million.

Crude oil exports averaged 4.32 million bpd, up by 43,000 bpd from the previous week, while crude imports rose by 753,00 bpd to 7.092 million bpd.

Total products supplied over the last four weeks averaged 19.98 million bpd, down 1.1% from the same period a year earlier. Gasoline demand last week averaged 8.3 million bpd, lower by 0.2% from a year earlier, while distillate demand averaged 4.1 million bpd, up by 6.7% from the same period last year.

EIA: U.S. Ethanol Output Jumps, Stocks Down 2.1% on Year

The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday (1/14) that overall ethanol production in the United States averaged 1.196 million bpd, up 98,000 bpd week-on-week and 101,000 bpd, or 9.2% higher than in the same week last year. Four-week average output at 1.127 million bpd was 23,000 bpd above the same four weeks last year.

Midwest ethanol production averaged 1.139 million bpd, up 98,000 bpd week-on-week and 98,000 bpd, or 9.4% higher than in the same week last year. Four-week average output at 1.07 million bpd was 24,000 bpd above the same four weeks last year.

Ethanol blending activity in the U.S. averaged 841,000 bpd, up 70,000 bpd week-on-week and 12,000 bpd, or 1.4% higher than in the same week last year. Four-week average blending demand at 853,000 bpd was 6,000 bpd above the same four weeks last year.

Blender inputs at the East Coast were up 19,000 bpd on the week while inputs in the Midwest were up 26,000 bpd, up 23,000 bpd on the Gulf Coast and up 1,000 bpd on the West Coast.

Domestic ethanol inventories ended the week at 24.473 million bbl, up 821,000 bbl week-on-week and 535,000 bbl, or 2.1% lower than in the same week last year.

East Coast PADD 1 inventories ended the week at 6.821 million bbl, up 616,000 bbl week-on-week and 688,000 bbl, or 9.2% lower than in the same week last year.

Midwest PADD 2 inventories ended the week at 10.48 million bbl, down 350,000 bbl week-on-week and 374,000 bbl, or 3.7% higher than in the same week last year.

Gulf Coast PADD 3 inventories ended the week at 4.314 million bbl, up 423,000 bbl week-on-week and 59,000 bbl, or 1.3% lower than in the same week last year.

West Coast PADD 5 inventories ended the week at 2.473 million bbl, up 129,000 bbl week-on-week and 129,000 bbl, or 5% lower than in the same week last year.

EIA: Propane/Propylene Stocks Down on Wk, Up 23% on Yr

The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday (1/14) total domestic propane/propylene stocks of 95.714 million bbl in the week ending January 9, down 2.39 million bbl week-on-week and 17.863 million bbl, or 22.9% higher than in the same week last year.

Data show propane/propylene exports last week averaged 2.076 million bpd, up 200,000 bpd week-on-week and 215,000 bpd, or 11.6%, higher than in the same week last year.

Implied demand for propane/propylene in the United States averaged 1.317 million bpd, down 101,000 bpd week-on-week and 280,000 bpd, or 17.5% lower than in the same week last year.

EIA reports domestic propane/propylene production averaged 2.891 million bpd, up 65,000 bpd week-on-week and 260,000 bpd, or 9.9% higher than in the same week last year.

East Coast PADD 1 inventories ended the week at 6.328 million bbl, down 481,000 bbl week-on-week and 374,000 bbl, or 6.3% higher than in the same week last year.

Midwest PADD 2 inventories ended the week at 22.166 million bbl, down 1.14 million bbl week-on-week and 1.412 million bbl, or 6.8% higher than in the same week last year.

Gulf Coast PADD 3 inventories ended the week at 62.557 million bbl, down 600,000 bbl week-on-week and 15.84 million bbl, or 33.9% 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 4.663 million bbl, down 169,000 bbl week-on-week and 237,000 bbl, or 5.4% higher than in the same week last year.

OPEC+ Stays Bullish as Output Falls to 4-Month Low

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners kept its demand growth forecast for 2026 unchanged at 1.38 million bpd in its latest monthly oil report published Wednesday (1/14). The group’s oil output continued to be plagued by outages, dropping to the lowest level since August.

Combined crude oil production by OPEC and its partners fell in December. Output from OPEC+’s so-called group of eight – member countries which had agreed to hike output by 137,000 bpd in December – fell by 202,000 bpd from the prior month, and declines in output from other members led to supply shrinking by 238,000 bpd.

Kazakh oil production alone plummeted by 237,000 bpd after a Ukrainian attack on the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk left only one of three moorings operational, forcing shut some production. Russian output fell by 73,000 bpd on the month, and production in Venezuela – one of three countries not part of the production curtailment agreement, was down by 60,000 bpd amid sanctions pressure.

The newest report also contained OPEC’s first demand growth forecast for 2027, which at 1.34 million bpd just a tick below the 1.38 million bpd projected for this year. Optimistic demand growth expectations – some 500,000 bpd higher than IEA’s – coupled with a relatively modest non-OPEC output growth forecast, implies a well-balanced crude oil market in 2026, which puts the group at odds with most major forecasting agencies and analysts who are expecting a sizable crude overhang this year.