API is scheduled to release its weekly data at 4:30 pm EDT (2030 GMT) Tuesday. EIA's weekly oil statistics will be released at 10:30 am EDT (1430 GMT) Wednesday.
Relatively high import levels given the recent drop-off in refinery inputs would result in another build in crude stocks.
For the week ended August 20, crude imports were 9.881 million b/d, according to data from EIA, while refinery runs fell 399,000 b/d to 15.426 million b/d.
Refinery utilization is expected to decline 0.4 percentage points to 87.3%. Run rates usually decline after the upcoming Labor Day weekend, but the recent deceleration in demand gave refiners economic reason to throttle back on output.
Gasoline stocks are projected to decline 1 million barrels, with lower yields ahead of the end of driving season expected to erode inventories. Gasoline yields were an exceptionally high 61.12% the week ended August 20.
Stocks of middle distillates are expected to increase 1 million barrels. With refiners favoring gasoline over middle distillate yields, production of diesel and heating oil has recently declined, slowing the pace of stock-building.
China Chemical Weekly: http://news.chemnet.com/en/detail-1411716.html
