During the week ended September 23, crude reserves fell by 200,000 barrels, while the Bloomberg consensus was expecting an increase of two million barrels.
Commercial crude oil reserves fell slightly last week in the United States, according to figures released on Wednesday by the US Energy Information Agency (EIA), as analysts expected a sharp rise.
During the week ended September 23, these commercial stocks fell by 200,000 barrels, when the consensus, established by the Bloomberg agency, was counting on an increase of two million barrels.
This lag compared to forecasts is partly explained by a slowdown in imports and above all a 31% jump in exports over one week.
In a context of energy crisis in Europe and sanctions hitting Russia, American crude is in high demand. On average over four weeks, a figure favored by operators, oil exports are 40% higher than their level last year at the same time.
Another element of explanation, the drain on US strategic reserves was significantly lower than in previous weeks, at 4.6 million barrels.
With the approach of the end, at the end of October, of the program of use of these reserves decided by the government of President Joe Biden to try to relieve the prices of black gold, they now show a level more seen since July 1984.
Even more than commercial stocks, the surprise came from gasoline reserves, which fell by 2.4 million barrels, while analysts saw them increase by 500,000 barrels.
As for the demand for gasoline, it rebounded by 6% over one week, while the market is worried about a decline in appetite for refined products in the United States, which would be the advanced sign of a decelerating economy.
In total, demand for refined products, for the week ended September 23, stood at 20.7 million barrels per day, the highest for a month and a half, up nearly 10% over one week.
As for American production, it fell slightly, to 12 million barrels per day, against 12.1 million the previous week.