WASHINGTON, May 23, 2013 – Total U.S. petroleum deliveries (a measure of demand) were up 0.3 percent for April against the same month a year ago to average nearly 18.4 million barrels per day, but still recorded the second lowest April demand level in 17 years. Gasoline demand fell 3.9 percent from April 2012 to its lowest April level since 2000.

“For the second month demand is up from a year ago,” said API Chief Economist John Felmy. “Consumer confidence has improved and distillate deliveries are up, but gasoline demand remains weak.”

Gasoline demand averaged 8.5 million barrels per day for the month, while distillate deliveries at 3.8 million barrels per day were up 1.4 percent from April a year ago. Kerosine-jet fuel demand was down 1.8 percent, and residual fuel oil demand was down by 22.8 percent. Demand for “other oils” – which include liquid petrochemical feedstocks, naphtha, and gasoil and are nearly one-fourth of total deliveries – was up 12.5 percent in April from April 2012.

Refinery gross inputs were above 15.0 million barrels per day for the first time this year. Production of all major refined products – gasoline, distillates, jet fuel, and residual fuels – was higher than deliveries, so products were exported, increasing by 1.0 percent from this March. At nearly 8.9 million barrels per day, gasoline production rose to its third highest April output ever, increasing by 2.2 percent from March 2013 and 1.3 percent from April 2012. Production of distillate fuel and jet fuel were also up, with distillate production at 4.5 million barrels per day achieving its highest April level ever.

Total U.S. crude oil production remained above 7.0 million barrels per day for the sixth month in a row and was at a 21-year high at 7.3 million barrels per day, a 1.7 percent increase from March and 15.9 percent higher than April 2012. The number of oil and gas rigs decreased from 1,756 in March to 1,755 in April, according to the latest reports from Baker-Hughes, Inc.

April crude oil stocks ended at 388.9 million barrels, the highest inventory level for the month since 1981. Motor gasoline stocks at 218.0 million barrels were down by 1.4 percent but up 3.6 percent from the same month a year ago. Distillate fuel stocks ended at a five-year low, down 7.1 percent to 115.7 million barrels from year ago levels.

Total imports were below 10.0 million barrels per day for only the third time in over 15 years, falling 6.4 percent from April last year. With increased crude production and record crude inventories, crude oil imports in April were at their lowest in 16 years, falling 6.7 percent from April 2012 to 8.0 million barrels per day. Refined product imports were down 5.0 percent from the previous April to average 1.9 million barrels per day.

The refinery utilization rate averaged 86.5 percent for April 2013, up 2.6 percent from the prior month but down 0.1 percent from April 2012. API’s latest refinery operable capacity was 17.820 million barrels per day up from 17.718 million barrels per day this past March.

API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 500 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $85 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.