ENENERGY, TRANSPORTATION & WORKING CAPITAL · OCTOBER 29, 2026
Crude and Distillate Inventories Decline as Fuel-Cost Risk Persists
EIA data released October 28 show commercial crude stocks declining to 410.6 million barrels and distillate stocks falling to 102.8 million barrels for the week ended October 23.
What EIA released on October 28
Source publication date: October 28, 2026. For the week ended October 23, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported commercial crude-oil inventories excluding lease stocks at 410.625 million barrels, down from 412.517 million a week earlier. Total crude including the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was 693.208 million barrels. Weekly estimates are subject to revision and do not establish the delivered cost paid by an individual business.
- 01Commercial crude fell 1.9 million barrels
- 02Distillate fell 1.5 million barrels
- 03Gasoline stocks increased 3.9 million barrels
Major product inventories moved in different directions
Total motor-gasoline stocks increased to 209.180 million barrels from 205.310 million. Distillate-fuel-oil stocks declined to 102.824 million barrels from 104.286 million, while jet-fuel stocks declined to 42.217 million barrels from 42.606 million. These national totals can mask regional basis, pipeline, refinery, seasonal, grade, and distribution conditions.
Refinery utilization was broadly steady
EIA reported refinery gross inputs of about 16.797 million barrels per day and operable utilization of 93.1%, compared with 93.0% the prior week. Inventory and utilization data are market context, not a guaranteed direction for crude, gasoline, diesel, freight, lubricants, asphalt, petrochemical inputs, or supplier surcharges. Contracts, taxes, location, hedging, and payment terms shape the cost actually borne by a borrower.
Practical borrower takeaway
Update a rolling weekly cash forecast using current supplier quotes and actual gallons, miles, loads, production units, or deliveries. Reconcile fuel and energy use to revenue, review surcharge and customer repricing lags, and identify contracts that limit pass-through. Stress higher delivered costs, slower collections, and tighter vendor terms, then preserve sufficient unrestricted cash or documented revolver availability for the operating gap.
Fuel-sensitive borrowers should update delivered-cost, surcharge, margin, inventory, and weekly liquidity assumptions from company evidence rather than treating national inventory changes as a price forecast.
Discuss a financing need →This independent summary is based on the cited source and is provided for general educational purposes only. Terms and program requirements may change.