US Crude Oil Inventories Rise 7.7 Million Barrels Exceeding Estimates

U.S. crude oil inventories rose sharply by about 7.7 million barrels in the week ending July 25, 2025, significantly surpassing analyst expectations of a 1.6-million-barrel draw, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This increase marked the largest build in six months and brought commercial crude stocks to 426.7 million barrels, still roughly 6% below the five-year average for this time of year. The rise was driven by higher domestic production, which increased by 41,000 barrels per day to 13.3 million barrels, and increased imports, while exports declined by 1.2 million barrels per day. Gasoline inventories, however, fell by 2.7 million barrels, contrasting with the 3.6 million barrel increase in distillate fuel stocks, which remain 16% below their five-year average. Refinery utilization slightly declined to 95.4%, with refinery inputs down marginally, and overall gasoline demand increased by 185,000 barrels per day to 9.2 million barrels. Despite the build in crude stocks, crude prices edged higher on the day of the report, reflecting market reactions to the data.